Iran Prepares Three Homegrown Satellites for Soyuz Launch

WANA (Dec 22) – The Kowsar satellite, developed by young Iranian scientists in the private sector, has entered a new phase of pre-launch preparations alongside two other Iranian satellites, Zafar-2 and Paya, officials said on Monday.

According to the project team, the integration of Kowsar with its launch vehicle has been completed, and the satellite has been formally handed over to the launcher. Final compatibility tests between the satellite and the launch system were also successfully concluded.

Preparation and Integration of the Kowsar Satellite to the Launch Vehicle.Social media/ WANA News Agency

In a parallel development, Zafar-2 and Paya were successfully mounted onto the Soyuz launch vehicle’s separation block earlier today, joining other payloads scheduled for launch. All related integration tests were carried out without issue.

Project officials described these steps as critical milestones in the launch preparation process. The upcoming phases will include encapsulation—placing the satellites and launch vehicle inside the protective fairing—followed by transfer to the launch pad.

Integration of Zafar-2 and Paya Satellites onto the Soyuz Launch Vehicle. Social media/ WANA News Agency

The three domestically developed Iranian satellites are scheduled to be launched into space aboard Russia’s Soyuz launch vehicle on December 28 at 04:48 P.M. Iran time. The LEO orbit will host three Iranian satellites, which will be launched simultaneously from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Kowsar is an advanced remote-sensing satellite designed and built by the knowledge-based company OmidFaza, with its imaging payload developed by another private firm.

It is Iran’s third privately developed satellite to move from design to construction in less than a year, reflecting the rapid expansion of the country’s private-sector space ecosystem.

Preparation and Integration of the Kowsar Satellite to the Launch Vehicle.Social media/ WANA News Agency