Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Vertical Engine Test Stand 2012-2021

North Korea has made major improvements to the Sohae Satellite Launching Station since 2012, transforming it into the country’s showcase space launch center.

The Vertical Engine Test Stand at Sohae is North Korea’s largest liquid-fuel engine test stand. Major upgrades were made to the stand in 2015, including the construction of a rail-mounted environmental shelter, making detection of engine test activity more difficult.

While the Vertical Engine Test Stand was mostly dismantled in 2018 after the first US-DPRK summit in Singapore, it was promptly rebuilt in 2019 after the two sides failed to reach an agreement at the second US-DPRK summit in Hanoi.

January 30, 2021. Current status of Sohae's Vertical Engine Test Stand (VETS). Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
December 15, 2019. Overview of VETS with retractable environmental shelter rolled back. Image © 2019 Planet Labs, Inc. cc-by-sa 4.0.
December 11, 2019. Truck observed adjacent to one of the fuel/oxidizer bunkers at the VETS after the December 7 engine test. Image Pleiades © CNES 2019, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
March 6, 2019. VETS and the retractable environmental shelter close to completion; materials remain. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
March 2, 2019. VETS reassembly with cranes and construction materials visible. Satellite image © 2021 Maxar Technologies. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
October 31, 2018. No additional dismantling at the VETS. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
August 3, 2018. North Korea continues to dismantle the VETS. Image: Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
July 22, 2018. Test stand superstructure completed dismantled. Pleaides © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
July 20, 2018. Environmental shelter removed and other dismantlement activities underway at the engine test stand. Pleaides © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
May 26, 2018. VETS before disassembly. Image © 2018 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
December 31, 2017. Vehicle tracks and environmental shelter pulled back, but no recent tests conducted. Image © 2018 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
November 23, 2017. Environmental shelter against the VETS and recent vehicle activity. Image © 2018 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
June 22, 2017. Recent damage to vegetation and scarring from vehicular traffic observed post-engine test. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
June 10, 2017. Days before reported engine test, no indications of upcoming activity. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
March 13, 2017. Environmental shelter moved up against the VETS. Pleaides © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
December 29, 2016. Environmental shelter positioned back on apron, no indications of recent test. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
October 1, 2016. Extended vegetation burn area evident at VETS after the September 20, 2016 engine test. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
September 17, 2016. Activity three days prior to engine test. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
April 22, 2016. Post-engine test, environmental shelter rolled to the VETS and scarring from April 9 test visible. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
January 25, 2016. New environmental shelter complete. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
December 28, 2015. Environmental shelter under construction. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
October 4, 2015. Construction continues on buildings at the VETS. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
September 17, 2015. Construction of new fuel/oxidizer buildings at the VETS begins.
July 21, 2015. Engine test preparations for July 24 test. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2021. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
August 11, 2014. Activity indicates an engine test was conducted between August 8 and August 11. Note: image rotated. Image includes material Pleiades © CNES 2014. Distribution Airbus DS / Spot Image, all rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
August 8, 2014. Activity before engine test (sometime between August 8 and 11). Note: image rotated. Image © 2014 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
July 6, 2014. KN-08 first stage canister visible days before engine test. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
June 10, 2015. Engine test in progress. Satellite image © 2021 Maxar Technologies. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
May 10, 2014. Probable KN-08 first stage visible, most likely after an engine test in April or early May. Image © 2021 Airbus Defense & Space. All rights reserved. This image is not licensed for media use.
April 3, 2014. Activity post-engine test. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
March 22, 2014. Pre-test activity. Satellite image © 2021 Maxar Technologies. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
January 9, 2014. Stand after possible test (between December 26, 2013 and January 9, 2013). Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
December 26, 2013. Preparations for a possible rocket engine test. Image © 2013 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
August 30, 2013. Post-engine test activity. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
August 25, 2013. Pre-test activity. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
May 16, 2013. Activity post-engine test. Image Pleiades © CNES 2021, Distribution Airbus DS. For media options, please contact [email protected].
September 17, 2012. Indications of engine tests, including the September 12, 2012 test. Satellite image © 2021 Maxar Technologies. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].
April 9, 2012. Preparations for at least one rocket engine test over the summer months of 2012. Satellite image © 2021 Maxar Technologies. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected].