20 Jan: Iran successfully launched its Sorayya satellite into orbit using a Qaem 100, a three-stage solid-fuel rocket built by Iran’s military Revolutionary Guards. Launch Video.
– Iran successfully placed the Sorayya satellite into a ~750km orbit with a 64.5° inclination. At the time this was the highest orbit successfully reached by Iran.
– Iran launched the Qaem 100 from the Shahrud space center in Northeaster Iran. The Qaem 100 was developed by IRGC and was first tested on sub-orbital flight on 5 Nov 2022, and its first orbital mission failed on 4 Mar 2023.
– The Qaem-100 is the IRGC’s latest carrier rocket, based on the older Qased, a proven rocket that has successfully launched satellites into space at least three times in the past.
– Like the Qased, the Qaem-100 is also a three-stage solid-fuel rocket, but has twice the payload capacity of Qased and can reach an apogee of 750km (Qased could reach only ~500km).
– The IRGC announced the successful testing of the Qaem-100 engine two years ago, explaining that it has a thrust of 68,000 kg, higher than older models with 30,000 kg.
– Iran’s information and communications technology minister, Issa Zarepour, confirmed the reception of the satellite’s first signal via a post on the Iranian social media platform Virasty. He detailed that Soraya’s ground satellite tracking stations received signals and telemetry data, indicating the satellite’s subsystems were functioning correctly and that the satellite was in good condition.
– The Soraya satellite weighs 47kg and is designed for research and telecommunication purposes, and has an expected lifespan of three years. Soraya is the fourth satellite launched by the IRGC aerospace division, as well as their first civilian satellite.
– According to the Iranian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Soraya is a research satellite and was developed by the Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC).
– Since 2020, in parallel with the civilian Iranian Space Agency (ISA), the IRGC has been developing its own space program with solid-fueled carrier rockets and the Shahrud Rocket Site as its base.
– In April 2020, March 2022 and October 2023, the IRGC’s military satellites Nour-1, Nour-2 and Nour-3 were sent into space by Qased carrier rockets, respectively.
Qaem 100 Heading to Launch Pad (NASAspaceflight.org)
Qaem 100 Launch Trajectory (@planet4589 via X)
