On Saturday, Iran launched a new Soraya research satellite into orbit. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is already reporting a new, important victory. At the same time, the US government declares the danger that may arise from the development of missile technology in this country.
Iran launched a satellite
On Saturday, January 19, Iran launched its new Soraya satellite into orbit. The spacecraft is positioned as a research one, but for some reason the Islamic Revolutionary Guard was engaged in its development. It is a military, highly politicized and ideological organization, very far from the topic of peaceful space exploration.
The United States has repeatedly warned Iran against such launches, saying the same technology can be used for ballistic missiles, including those designed to deliver a nuclear warhead. The Islamic Republic, in turn, claims that its satellite and rocket launches have exclusively a civilian or defensive purpose, denying any ambitions to create atomic weapons.
According to Iranian news agencies, the launch was successful. At the same time, they refer to the statement of the same Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The satellite is in the target orbit.
Characteristics of the satellite and launch vehicle
The news agency quoted Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour as saying that the satellite, which weighs about 50 kilograms, was launched into an orbit 750 kilometers above the Earth. And the last fact is presented by the Iranians as revolutionary.
Until now, the country has not been able to launch spacecraft to an altitude of more than 500 kilometers, which is already an average orbit. The Ghaem-100 rocket, which was used for this purpose, was manufactured by the aerospace organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. It is the first three-stage carrier of this country.
Although Tehran has had several unsuccessful satellite launches in the past, the successful launch of its first military satellite, Nour-1, into orbit in April 2020 drew sharp criticism from the United States. Other Western governments have expressed similar concerns about Iran’s aerospace program.
According to phys.org
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