Iran to develop satellite vehicles that could carry 15 tons of cargo
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Iran's Ministry of Defense reveals that the Soroush family of space vehicles will be developed in the near future.
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This photo released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, shows Simorgh, or "Phoenix", satellite carrier before being launched at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran's rural Semnan province (AP)
Iran has uncovered plans to develop satellite launch vehicles that could send up to 15 tons of cargo into orbit, the Iranian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
Ahmad Hosseini Mounes, Iran's space division spokesperson, said the country's innovative space pursuits are “completely scientific and technological” and do not rely on any foreign entity's permission.
Hosseini Mounes also discussed plans for the satellite vehicles in more detail, saying that the Sarir satellite launch vehicle will be sent to orbit carrying 15 tons of cargo.
The Sarir launch vehicle can either launch multiple (six or seven) satellites at low altitude levels or one satellite that can travel up to 36,000 kilometers above Earth's surface.
For the future, Hosseini Mounes said Iran is developing the Soroush satellite launch vehicles, which would be able to carry six to 15 tons of cargo.
Read more: Iran not seeking permission for scientific advancements: Tehran
Iran launches three new satellites into orbit
The announcement came as Iran successfully launched three domestically developed satellites into orbit, marking another milestone in the country's space program.
The satellites, Mahda, Keyhan-2, and Hatef-1, were propelled into space by the Simorgh (Phoenix) launch vehicle, manufactured by the Iranian Defense Ministry.
The launch took place on Sunday from the Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal in Semnan Province. The satellites achieved a minimum altitude of 450 kilometers and a maximum of 1,100 kilometers above sea level.
Mahda, a research satellite weighing 32 kilograms, was designed, manufactured, assembled, and tested at the Iranian Space Research Center.
Read more: Iran's upcoming satellite launch: A new space endeavor
