Iran plans to put 700-kilo satellite into orbit

Iran plans to put a satellite, weighing 700 kilograms, into orbit, the chancellor of Malek-e-Ashtar University announces.

“Iran’s final program in low orbit is to put a 700-kilogram satellite in an orbit of 1000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface,” Reza Mozaffarinia said in an interview published on the website of ISNA news agency on Tuesday.

The Islamic Republic is also going to build new satellite-carrier rockets, including 1B and Simorgh (Phoenix), which can carry satellites weighing up to 50 and 100 kilograms respectively, he stated.

Commenting on Rasad satellite, he said the satellite is presently stable in orbit.

On June 15, Iran successfully launched its second domestically-manufactured satellite, called Rasad (Observation in English). The satellite launched aboard Safir rocket and successfully reached orbit. Rasad carries out topography missions and can produce high-resolution maps.

Earlier Mozaffarinia had said Rasad came to a stable position after orbiting the earth for some times.

He told ISNA that Rasad satellite is designed for staying in orbit for 40 days.

He also pointed to Fajr satellite, which will be launched in the current Iranian year (which began on March 21), saying it weighs 50 kilograms and it can stay in orbit for about 1.5 years.

Source: Tehran Times