Iran Announces Long-Term Plans for 15-Ton Payload Satellite Launch Vehicles

Iran's Defense Ministry declared its long-term plans to develop satellite launch vehicles capable of carrying cargoes weighing up to 15 tons into orbit.

The announcement was made by Ahmad Hosseini Mounes, the spokesman for the ministry's space division, following the recent successful launch of three domestically-produced satellites using the Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier.

Hosseini Mounes emphasized the scientific and technological nature of Iran's space activities, stating, "Based on our roadmap, we will have the Sarir satellite launch vehicle, which will put a cargo weighing one and a half tons into orbits close to the Earth’s surface." He added that the Sarir could launch multiple satellites into low-altitude orbits or a single satellite into an orbit 36,000 kilometers above the Earth's surface.

Future plans include the development of the Soroush family satellite carriers, capable of carrying cargoes ranging from 6 to 15 tons into space.

On Monday, the Simorgh satellite carrier simultaneously launched the Mahda research satellite, along with the Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1 nanosatellites. These satellites achieved orbits with altitudes ranging from a minimum of 450 kilometers to a maximum of 1,100 kilometers above Earth.

Last week, the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) launched the Soraya satellite into orbit using the Qaem 100 satellite carrier.

IRGC Space Commander Sardar Jafar Abadi, recently announced Iran's readiness to launch satellites for other countries. While talking to reporters about Soraya satellite launch, he proposed the possibility of cooperation with friendly and neighboring countries possessing academic satellites or those with satellites under 100 kg.