Highlights: Iran launches satellite into space. New gesture of defiance against Western sanctions. First time Iran has sent a satellite beyond 500 kilometers. The satellite is capable of carrying up to 100 kg. It was launched by the Ghaem-100 satellite carrier. It is the first time the satellite has been placed in orbit. The launch comes against the backdrop of tensions between Israel and the U.S. over Iran's nuclear program. It's the first satellite to be launched by a carrier that can carry more than 50 kg. The Ghaam-100 carrier was launched on Saturday.

Iran claims to have placed a satellite 750 kilometers from the earth, a new gesture of defiance which comes against the backdrop of the war between Hamas and Israel and tensions in the region.

Iran launches research satellite into space

Iran claims to have placed a satellite 750 kilometers from the earth, a new gesture of defiance which comes against the backdrop of the war between Hamas and Israel and tensions in the region.

Launch of an Iranian-2 satellite © Screenshot/Irna Images

By: RFI Follow

Iran has “successfully” launched a new research satellite, official media reported on Saturday (January 20).

A new stage in the development of the country's aerospace activities despite Western sanctions.

The Soraya satellite, developed by the Iranian Space Organization, “

was successfully launched on Saturday by the Ghaem-100 rocket of the Revolutionary Guards

,” state television said.

The video shows the moment of launching Sorayya satellite with Qaem 100 carrier

Qaem 100, which is capable of carrying up to 100 kg, in its third test, placed Sorayya satellite with an approximate mass of 50 kg in a 750 km orbit.

It was launched by Qaem 100 satellite carrier,… pic.twitter.com/MKKtx5gFYN

— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) January 20, 2024

It was placed in orbit 750 kilometers above the Earth: this is the first time that Iran has sent a satellite beyond 500 kilometers, according to the official Iranian news agency Irna.

Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour said Soraya was “

a research satellite weighing around 50 kilograms

.”

Iran has been expanding its aerospace activities for years and maintains that they are peaceful and consistent with a UN Security Council resolution.

But Western governments fear that its satellite launch systems will incorporate technologies interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

The Ghaem-100 rocket is being developed by the Revolutionary Guards, the ideological army of the Islamic Republic, which announced in September that it had placed its Nour-3 imaging satellite in orbit, 450 kilometers above the Earth .

The Islamic Republic of Iran has been subject to crippling US sanctions since Washington withdrew in 2018 from an international agreement that was supposed to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions.

Iran launches research satellite into space

Iran launches research satellite into space

Trends 24h

Latest