Iran Successfully Launches Chamran-1 Research Satellite into 550 km Orbit, Second Success This Year

Sep 14, 2024, 11:12 AM

Iran has successfully launched its Chamran-1 research satellite into space, marking its second successful satellite launch this year. The satellite was launched aboard the Qaem-100 satellite carrier and placed into a 550 km orbit. The Chamran-1, weighing 60 kg, was developed by Iran Electronics Industries in collaboration with the Aerospace Research Institute and private tech companies. Its main mission is to test orbital maneuver technology, with secondary tasks including evaluating cold gas propulsion and navigation systems. The launch was conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), using a solid-fueled rocket. This development is part of Iran's indigenous space program, which has faced criticism from Western countries over concerns that the technology could be used for ballistic missile development. According to state media, the satellite was injected into orbit with a vertical launch vehicle at a speed of 7.5 km/s.