Iran successfully launches Fakhr-1 military satellite into orbit PHOTO

Iran's Army successfully launched the Fakhr-1 satellite into orbit, using the domestically developed Simorgh satellite carrier, marking a significant achievement for the country's space program.

The launch occurred early in the morning, with the two-stage, liquid-fueled Simorgh rocket placing the satellite into low Earth orbit (LEO). Shortly after reaching orbit, the Fakhr-1 sent its first signals to ground stations, Caliber.Az reports per Iranian media.

The mission set a new national record, with the Simorgh rocket carrying a combined payload of 300 kilograms. This included the Fakhr-1 satellite, the Saman-1 orbital transfer block, and an additional research payload. The Simorgh is currently Iran’s sole launcher capable of deploying such payloads into LEO.

A key success of the launch was the precise placement of the payload into orbit, achieving a velocity tolerance of less than 0.1 per cent, with a speed of 7,754 meters per second.

The Simorgh rocket, which weighs around 80 tons, had a first-stage burn time of 105 seconds and a second-stage burn time of 340 seconds, reaching the required injection speed of 7,754 meters per second.

The Fakhr-1 nanosatellite, which weighs under 10 kilograms and is built in a three-cubic-unit (3U) form factor, was developed in collaboration between the Iranian Army, SA Iran Corporation, and Malek Ashtar University of Technology. The satellite, named in honor of the late scientist Dr. Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is primarily focused on validating key technologies for cube satellite constellations.

Additionally, the mission aligns with Iran’s broader goals of advancing multi-payload launches using the Simorgh rocket. Key subsystems, such as the central computer, power management, radio communications, and flight dynamics modules, were all locally developed and launched for the first time.

After separation from the rocket, Fakhr-1 successfully transmitted telemetry data from its onboard sensors and systems. Ground stations confirmed the satellite received and executed commands during its initial pass, with subsequent telemetry confirming its stable orbit.

This mission further positions Iran as a regional leader in space technology, particularly in imaging and electromagnetic spectrum monitoring, setting the stage for future satellite missions.

By Vafa Guliyeva