PNN – The head of the space agency explained details of the Ghaem-120 satellite launchers, the Simorgh upgrade, and the status of Phoenix.
Hassan Salarieh, head of the Iranian Space Organization, said about the status of domestic launchers and the indigenous launch program: This year, we witnessed launches by the Qaseed, Simorgh, and Dhul-Jinnah satellite carriers, most of which were carried out with the aim of “technology development.
Of course, our launch program is not over and other launches are also planned. We are making every effort to have other launches by domestic satellite carriers by the end of this year, God willing.
Development of the “Qaem” satellite carrier family
Regarding the development path of solid-fuel satellite carriers, Salarieh added: Several parallel paths are being taken in this area. After the development of the “Qaem 100”, the “Qaem 105” project from the same family is now being pursued in cooperation with the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force.
The development of the “Qaem 120” launcher is also on the agenda. Compared to the initial version (Qaem 100), this launcher is capable of carrying more masses to low-altitude orbit (LEO) and even has the potential to achieve an orbit of 36,000 kilometers (of course, in the form of a geosynchronous orbital plane or GTO). Various projects have been defined in this area, and God willing, their test launches and suborbital launches will be carried out soon.
Promoting “Simorgh” and introducing “Qoqnoos”
He explained: Regarding the “Simorgh” satellite carrier, last year the first test of the “upgraded model” of this launcher was successfully carried out with the aim of delivering the payload to an orbit of 36,000 kilometers (in the form of injection into a geosynchronous orbit or GTO), and future launches are also planned to stabilize this launcher.
Another important issue is the development of the “Phoenix” launcher. This satellite carrier is capable of carrying heavier payloads in low-altitude orbit.
Strategy to achieve 36,000 km orbit
The head of the Iranian Space Organization noted: Our strategy to reach geostationary orbit (36,000 km) is to use a combination of these powerful launchers with “orbital transfer blocks.” In this way, the launcher takes the satellite and the transfer block to a parking orbit or low altitude, and then the transfer block takes the payload to a high orbit. This is an issue that our colleagues in the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Support as well as the IRGC Aerospace Force are seriously pursuing.