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Iran Launches Heaviest Payload into Orbit Amid Western Missile Concerns

Dec 6, 2024, 12:31 PM

On Friday, December 6, 2024, Iran successfully launched its heaviest-ever payload into space using the domestically developed Simorgh rocket from the Imam Khomeini Spaceport. The launch involved the Fakhr-1 satellite, associated with the Iranian Army, which was placed into an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 410 kilometers and a perigee of 300 kilometers. Alongside Fakhr-1, the Saman-1 orbital transfer module and a CubeSat were also deployed, with a total payload weight of approximately 300 kilograms. The Saman-1 module is designed to transfer satellites to higher-altitude orbits, advancing Iran's capabilities in space technology. The Fakhr-1 satellite has begun transmitting signals to ground stations. The launch has raised concerns in the West, where it is alleged that Iran's space program supports the development of ballistic missiles.