Iran Capable of Launching Satellites for Neighbors
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force Space Division General Ali Jafarabadi said Iran has the capacity to launch small satellites for neighboring countries into space.
"The homegrown Qassed satellite carrier has gained the necessary qualifications, and in the future, we can incorporate it into the production process. After two or three launches, we will have the capability to launch small satellites from neighboring countries," General Jafarabadi stated, adding that the registered data code for the Noor-III satellite is 57962, and people can track it on the Internet.
General Jafarabadi also said that only 1.5 hours post-launch, the Noor-III (light) imaging satellite swiftly stabilized and is now rapidly progressing toward full operational status.
He noted that this launch marks the inaugural use of thrusters or space propulsion systems capable of fine-tuning orbits and maintaining altitude.
"With this launch, we placed three satellites into space. The first-stage engine uses liquid fuel manufactured by the Ministry of Defense, while the second and third-stage engines are solid fuel engines developed by the IRGC and will be used in future satellite launches," General Jafarabadi continued.
"The second-stage engine propels the satellite to an altitude of 450 kilometers. The third-stage engine is a solid-fuel engine with a composite body and a high-efficiency nozzle, providing a speed of 28,000 kilometers per hour to reach orbital velocity."
Following the successful launch of Noor-III, IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said Wednesday, "Soon, we'll establish a satellite constellation in orbit, with two more launches planned by year's end."