Three Iranian Satellites to Be Launched Simultaneously This Fall
WANA (Oct 22) – This fall, three Iranian Earth-observation satellites will be launched into orbit in a joint effort involving the government, universities, and private industry—marking a major milestone in Iran’s space sector.
Hassan Salarieh, Deputy Minister of Communications and Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA), outlined the current state and two decades of progress in the nation’s space industry. He said Iran’s space program, established in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has achieved growing success in satellite design and manufacturing, launcher development, launch sites, and control centers.
According to Salarieh, Iran now has experience producing satellites in the 100–250 kg mass class, including orbital transfer blocks like Saman, and satellites such as Pars and Nahid. The country has also developed small-scale nanosatellites and microsatellites for optical imaging and communications. Academic, research, and private entities are increasingly active in these areas.
He detailed several families of Iranian launch vehicles: solid-fuel (Qaem series), liquid-fuel (Simorgh), and hybrid types combining both technologies. Iran has already achieved successful launches of payloads weighing 100–300 kg into low Earth orbit (LEO), and work continues to consolidate these capabilities.
Iran Prepares Chabahar Spaceport for First Solid-Fuel Launch
WANA (Oct 04) – The head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has announced that preparations are underway for the first solid-fuel launch from the Chabahar National Spaceport, while also revealing new details about upcoming satellite launches and international collaborations. Speaking at the inauguration of World Space Week 2025 under the theme “Living in […]
The National Chabahar Spaceport, located on Iran’s southern coast, is nearing completion and will enable launches at various orbital inclinations due to its low latitude. Salarieh confirmed that the first test launch from Chabahar—designed for solid-fuel vehicles—is expected “in the coming months.”
He highlighted the site’s strategic geographic value: launches from lower latitudes provide easier access to equatorial and geostationary orbits. Salarieh said Chabahar could make Iran a key regional launch hub.
Iran currently operates several ground control and data reception centers, with two additional facilities planned for the country’s northeast and northwest. Construction on these new stations will begin within months.
Salarieh described Iran’s design and launch capabilities as “growing steadily,” noting that the resolution of optical imaging satellites improves each year. Multiple communications satellite projects are also underway.
Iran to Achieve Indigenous GEO Access by 2028
WANA (Oct 20) – Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Seyed Sattar Hashemi, announced that the country is working to achieve stable and indigenous access to geostationary orbit (GEO) by the end of its Seventh Development Plan. In response to remarks made by the head of Iran’s Space Research Institute regarding the possible […]
On downstream development, Salarieh said that numerous knowledge-based companies and research centers now use satellite data for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and resource management. He noted that demand for more accurate and intelligent data processing is driving the commercialization of space-based services.
Regarding launcher reliability, Salarieh stressed that success requires repeated tests: “A single successful launch is not enough. We need multiple consecutive launches before declaring a vehicle reliable for commercial use.” He added that both the Simorgh and Qaem launchers have shown promising results, but further consistency is needed.
He emphasized the importance of increasing payload capacity: “Heavier satellites mean better imaging and stronger sensors, enabling more precise and higher-quality services.” Iran’s heaviest payload to date—around 300 kg—was launched last year, with the next goal set at 500 kg using upgraded versions of Simorgh.
Salarieh stated that true technological “stabilization” comes only through repetition: “Technology matures with repeated trials. In global cases, success often comes after ten or more launches. If we can maintain this pace over two years, we will achieve stabilization and reach the 500 kg class.”
Iranian satellite system named Qaem is displayed during the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC) Aerospace Force Museum in Tehran, Iran, November 15, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Iran Plans to Expand Launch Frequency and Develop Next-Generation Launch Vehicles
Hassan Salarieh also announced plans to increase the frequency of satellite launches to enhance reliability and advance Iran’s launcher technology. He emphasized that multiple consecutive launches are necessary for each launcher family to achieve operational stability and that orbital transfer blocks also require four to five successful missions to be considered mature technologies.
Salarieh outlined the continued development of the Simorgh launcher family and future generations with higher payload capacities, noting that “the path of advancement never ends.” He said that questions about timelines should focus on “how many launches” are needed rather than “when” success will occur, stressing that consistency, not a single achievement, defines true progress.
He described space technology stabilization as a gradual, iterative process: “It’s not a one-year plan. Progress requires repeated launches and incremental increases in payload capacity to reach tangible goals such as commercial services and deploying 500-kg or heavier satellites.” Salarieh predicted that sustained launch activity over two years could solidify Iran’s space technologies.
He also highlighted the growing importance of heavier satellites, particularly for high-altitude orbits like geostationary (GEO). Larger telecommunications satellites carry more powerful transponders and antennas, providing greater bandwidth and wider coverage. This directly enhances internet quality, communication reliability, and media services within the region.
Chabahar Space Base. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Improving Imaging Precision: From 4 Meters Toward 1 Meter
In the field of remote sensing, Salarieh said that heavier satellites allow for stronger sensors and higher spatial resolution. The Pars satellite currently achieves about 4-meter base resolution, which can be enhanced to around 2.5 meters through data fusion.
The next-generation satellites aim for 1-meter precision, critical for applications such as water management, precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster response.
He noted that ongoing technological shifts include both the miniaturization of sensors and the enhancement of onboard data-processing capabilities. As a result, Iran’s space programs are being continuously updated to keep pace with global innovation.
Miniaturization and Satellite Constellations: A Global Trend
Salarieh explained that over the past decade, the global space industry has experienced two parallel trends: the development of large, high-precision satellites weighing hundreds of kilograms or several tons for specialized long-term missions, and the rise of small-satellite constellations—networks of dozens or hundreds of nanosatellites that provide rapid, global data coverage through collective operation.
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He noted that many functions once reserved for multi-ton satellites can now be achieved with constellations of smaller ones. This paradigm shift is reshaping traditional views on satellite development.
Salarieh acknowledged that Iran remains slightly behind leading global programs due to delayed access to some technologies, but emphasized that the country’s development path remains steady and the gap is not seen as critical.
Chabahar National Spaceport Nears Completion; Multi-Satellite Launch Planned for Late 2025
Salarieh provided detailed updates on the Chabahar National Spaceport, describing it as a three-phase project now 94% complete in its first stage.
Phase I, dedicated to solid-fuel launchers, began construction in 2022 and requires only final test launches—two or three experimental missions—to validate all subsystems, including assembly hangars, telemetry systems, launch pads, and communications infrastructure. Salarieh said the goal is to conduct “at least one or two test launches” from Chabahar this year to place a satellite in orbit.
Phase II, which will accommodate liquid-fuel launchers such as the Simorgh family, is expected to begin construction later this year. This expansion will allow heavier-class launch vehicles—ranging from several hundred kilograms to several tons—to operate from the site.
Iran Achieves Full Independence in Space Industry
WANA (Oct 10) – Iran has achieved full independence in the field of satellite design, manufacturing, and launch, according to the head of the Iranian Space Research Institute. Dr. Vahid Yazdanian, president of the Iranian Space Research Institute, said in a speech on Thursday that the Islamic Republic can now carry out every stage […]
Technology Consolidation Through Repetition
Salarieh reiterated that true reliability requires multiple consecutive successful launches. Referring to international examples, he said a launcher often becomes commercially viable only after its “tenth or eleventh” successful flight. Similarly, Iran’s orbital transfer blocks must complete “four to five” successful missions before being considered stable technologies.
He expressed confidence that with several launches over the next two years, Iran could achieve full technology stabilization and reach the 500-kg payload class.
The heaviest payload Iran has placed in low Earth orbit so far is about 300 kg; the next milestone is 500 kg, achievable through upgraded Simorgh models. The long-term vision includes multi-ton payloads, to be reached step-by-step as each technological level is proven.
Soleimani Satellite Constellation and Data Integration
Salarieh highlighted the Soleimani satellite constellation project as a cornerstone of Iran’s move toward continuous data coverage and real-time decision-making. He said, “When a network of satellites works alongside distributed ground sensors, data from even the most remote areas can be transmitted instantly for analysis.”
This handout video grab, taken and released on August 9, 2022, by the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, shows the Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying the Khayyam satellite blasting off from a launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. – An Iranian satellite launched by Russia blasted off from Kazakhstan early August 9, 2022, and went into orbit amid controversy that Moscow might use it to improve its surveillance of military targets in Ukraine. (Photo by Yuri KADOBNOV / AFP)
This system will enhance response capabilities in emergencies such as wildfires, floods, and environmental crises, as well as in monitoring oil and gas pipelines. A constellation of around 20 satellites would significantly shorten revisit times, enabling near-continuous coverage across Iran.
Salarieh said this integration of “ground sensors and space-based assets” would support key sectors including disaster management, precision agriculture, water resource monitoring, vegetation mapping, and energy infrastructure surveillance.
He added that the successful establishment of these services depends on the parallel development of satellite infrastructure, sensor networks, data-processing centers, and both public and private service markets.
A Phased Approach and Pragmatic Optimism
Salarieh announced that the first phase of the Soleimani constellation will begin with about 20 satellites. Each phase will aim higher, reflecting what he called the “inherently ambitious nature of space exploration.”
He cautioned that early missions may face technical setbacks, noting that “some satellites might malfunction after a few months,” but said contingency plans include increasing the number of satellites to maintain constellation stability.
Kowsar and Hodhod satellite preparation, Social media/ WANA News Agency
The project is being carried out by a consortium of public and private entities, which Salarieh said is accelerating development through competition and collaboration.
Triple-Satellite Launch and Upcoming Milestones
In the coming months, Iran plans a triple-satellite launch carrying Zafar, Paya, and Kowsar-2—each built by different entities: one governmental, one academic, and one private.
Salarieh called it a “historic and exciting moment” that reflects healthy competition among sectors. The launch is tentatively scheduled for late December 2025 or early January 2026, subject to technical readiness, and could mark a new chapter in Iran’s spaceflight record.
He also reviewed recent achievements, including the Qaem-Sadid launcher’s successful second flight, which achieved orbital maneuvering—the first by a private Iranian launcher—and the Saman orbital transfer block, which carried Iran’s heaviest payload to date. The Nahid-2 communications satellite, launched earlier this year, completed a short space-to-ground contact—a key milestone following upgrades from ground testing.
Chabahar’s Regional and Economic Significance
Salarieh emphasized that the Chabahar spaceport will serve as an “economic gateway,” enabling access to diverse orbital inclinations and potentially offering launch services to foreign clients. Despite sanctions, he said, the site has “strong potential and regional value” for space commerce.
The “Simorgh” satellite carrier is seen before the launch at an undisclosed location in Iran in this handout image obtained on December 6, 2024. Iran’s Ministry of Defense/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
International Cooperation with Russia and China
Addressing international collaboration, Salarieh confirmed ongoing cooperation agreements with Russia and China, focused on shared technology development, subsystem testing, and access to additional launch opportunities. He said these partnerships help Iran gain practical experience by deploying its payloads aboard foreign launchers.
Salarieh stated that while geopolitical restrictions limit the range of partnerships, Iran aims to strengthen its technological base through selective cooperation with leading space nations, maintaining steady progress toward industrial-scale satellite production and launch operations.
Iran Expands International Cooperation to Strengthen Space Capabilities
Hassan Salarieh emphasized the importance of joint international projects, particularly in large-scale and high-cost missions, describing them as both economically and technically essential.
He noted that “the Moon and outer space are the shared heritage of humanity,” adding that leading spacefaring nations often include other countries in cooperative programs to ensure sustainable exploration and resource utilization.
Upgraded Version of Kowsar Satellite. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Salarieh revealed that Iran is collaborating with one of the world’s most advanced space nations to integrate domestically developed subsystems and payloads into foreign launch missions.
These joint projects allow Iranian-built components to be deployed aboard international launchers for orbital data collection, helping Iran solidify its technological expertise and enhance its standing in the global space community.
He concluded that Iran’s long-term goal is to achieve a stable and recognized position in the global space industry through the expansion of satellite constellations, frequent launch activities, industrial-scale space production, and active participation in international partnerships
