Iran Reports 'Successful' Launch of New 'Research' Satellite

Amid escalating tensions between the West and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the issue of ballistic missile shipments to Russia, Iranian news agencies report the launch of a new 'research' satellite into space. In reports published on Saturday, September 15, the satellite is named 'Chamran 1'. The West claims that despite global calls for the Islamic Republic to halt its missile program and United Nations resolutions, it is testing technologies that could be used for further development of ballistic missile programs. Domestic news agencies have claimed that the solid-fuel three-stage satellite launcher 'Qaim 100', belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), successfully placed the 'Chamran 1' satellite into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers during its second orbital operation. According to the Tasnim news agency, close to the IRGC, the 'Chamran 1' satellite was designed and built by the Iranian Electronics Industries Space Group (SAIran) in collaboration with the Aerospace Research Institute and private knowledge-based companies. Reports indicate that 'Chamran 1' weighs about 60 kilograms, and its main mission is to 'test hardware and software systems to demonstrate orbital maneuvering technology at altitude and phase'. 'Evaluating the cold gas propulsion subsystem in space systems and the performance of navigation and attitude control subsystems' are also listed as secondary missions for the 'Chamran 1' satellite. The Islamic Republic had also launched the 'Soraya' satellite with the 'Qaim 100' launcher on January 19, 2024, announcing that this satellite had 'successfully entered a 750-kilometer orbit around the Earth'. At that time, Britain, France, and Germany, as European members of the Western nuclear agreement with Iran known as the JCPOA, condemned the launch of the 'Soraya' satellite by the Islamic Republic in a joint statement. The joint statement from the European Troika noted that the 'Qaim 100' missile, which uses solid fuel and was used to launch the 'Soraya' satellite, employs technology from Iran's long-range ballistic missiles. The statement emphasized that 'launches of this nature allow Iran to test technologies that could be used for further development of its ballistic missile program, which poses a significant threat to regional and international security'. Previously, the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force claimed the 'successful' launch of the 'Qased' satellite launcher and the placement of the 'Noor 3' satellite into a 450-kilometer orbit around the Earth.