Iran's Simorgh Rocket Launches Record 300 kg Payload Including Fakhr-1 Satellite, Saman-1 Space Tug

Dec 6, 2024, 10:39 AM

Iran successfully launched its heaviest-ever payload into space on Friday using the homegrown Simorgh satellite carrier rocket, state media reported. The Simorgh, a two-stage liquid-fueled launch vehicle developed by Iran's Defense Ministry, carried a payload totaling approximately 300 kilograms, setting a new national record for the weight of payloads delivered to orbit. The payload included the "Fakhr-1" military satellite, launched in memory of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the domestically designed Saman-1 orbital transfer block—a space tug designed to transfer satellites to higher-altitude orbits—and a CubeSat research payload. This launch marks the eighth flight of the Simorgh rocket. The rocket injected the payloads into an elliptical orbit with a perigee of 300 kilometers and an apogee of 410 kilometers. Following the launch, the Fakhr-1 satellite successfully established communication with ground stations. The achievement demonstrates Iran's continued progress in space technology and its commitment to expanding its presence in space.