IRGC announces upcoming tests for satellite carrier “Qaem 105”
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force’s Space Division announced plans to develop a sophisticated satellite carrier that will be capable of deploying satellites into geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers above Earth, Iranian sources reported on Sunday.
Commander of IRGC Aerospace Force General Ali Jafarabadi lauded the recent successful launch of the Soraya satellite into low Earth orbit (LEO) using the Qaem-100 satellite carrier.
The Qaem-100, a three-stage satellite carrier powered by solid fuel, efficiently positioned Soraya 750 kilometers above Earth within 11 minutes.
General Jafarabadi confirmed the operational readiness of the Qaem-100 and revealed plans for the test launch of Qaem-105 next year.
Looking ahead, Iran aims to test launch the Qaem-120 satellite carrier within the next three years. This carrier is designed to deploy satellites into the challenging geostationary orbit.
In 1984, Iran launched its space program and was focused on developing sounding rockets and small satellites, which it successfully developed and launched in 1999.
Iran began its space program in the early 2000s, building its own satellite launcher on the Shahab-4 missile. The Semnan launch pad in the country’s north was built in 2009.
In 2012, it launched its first telecommunications satellite; in 2013, it conducted a test of its space launch vehicle, Simorgh; and in 2020, it launched its first military satellite, Noor-1.
