Iran has launched a research satellite into orbit with a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guards, state media reported.
The launch comes as the United States and European countries accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia that would likely be used in its war with Ukraine within weeks. Iran has denied this.
The Chamran-1 satellite, which was launched into space by the Qaem-100 satellite carrier, has been placed in a 550-kilometer orbit and its first signals have been received, the media said, adding that the solid-fuel carrier was designed and built by the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force.
The main mission of the satellite, which weighs 60 kilograms (132 pounds), “is to test hardware and software systems to demonstrate orbital height and phase maneuver technology,” according to state media.
In January, Iranian media reported that the Sorayya satellite was launched into a 750 km orbit, the country’s highest to date.
The US military claims that long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also allow Tehran to launch long-range weapons, possibly including nuclear warheads.
Tehran denies its satellite activities are a cover for developing ballistic missiles and says it has never sought to develop nuclear weapons.
Chamran-1’s other mission was to “evaluate the cold gas propulsion subsystem in space systems and the performance of the navigation and attitude control subsystems,” state media reported.
Iran, which has one of the largest missile programs in the Middle East, has suffered several failed satellite launches in recent years due to technical problems.
This content was originally published in Iran launches second satellite into space this year, according to state media on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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