Alwaght- Iran has launched a research satellite, Pars 1, into space less than a month after a satellite, Mahda, along with two other small satellites were placed into orbit in unprecedented domestic launch.
Pars 1, launched with Russian Soyuz carrier, went into space from Vostochny Cosmodrome launching site in Russia's Far East.
Pars 1 is a research satellite that was designed, built, and tested at the Iranian Space Research Institute. This 13-kg satellite is from the series of research-measurement satellites of the Iran Space Research Institute and was designed and produced for the purpose of functional imaging, development of the domestic measurement data market, and the development and testing of technologies required for indigenous operational measurement satellites.
The satellite has three imaging cameras and receives information from ground resources in three spectral ranges: visible, short-wave infrared, and thermal infrared, according to Fars News Agency.
The color spectrum and short-wave infrared camera of this satellite captures 95 percent of Iran's lands in less than 100 days. Also, the thermal infrared spectrum camera with the ability to shoot at night is capable of photographing all of Iranian territory in less than 45 days.
Other missions of this satellite include testing the mechanism of openable solar panels, testing the orbit modification with cold gas propulsion, testing the function of determining the position of the satellite independent of GPS based on the native positioning method, testing the performance of the generation, conversion and distribution of power in orbit with openable solar panels and domestic boards, the test of high-rate image data transmission in the X frequency band, measuring the amount of space radiation in the circuit using the payload measuring the amount of space radiation (dosimetry), Fars new reported.
An Iranian space expert said that the satellite was successfully launched into orbit and is now operating, adding that the separation took place about 12:00 Tehran Time (8:30 GMT).
2024, Year of space and satellites for Iran
Iran Space Organization's chief Hussein Salarieh earlier this week had said that Iran will make an unprecedented number of satellite launches and 2024 will be year of satellites and space for the nation.
He told Mehr News Agency that the design and manufacturing stages of various satellites have been completed or are being completed, including the flight sample of Nahid 2 satellite, the flight sample of Saman orbital transfer block and also the flight sample of Zafar 2 satellite, and once the tests are completed, they will be ready for launch.
"Before the end of the [Persian] year, a number of other satellites will be ready for launch. But due to various technical reasons, it is not possible to give an accurate report about the launch time," he told Mehr.
He also referred to a space station under construction in Chabahar east of the country which will allow access to higher orbits.
"God willing, with the completion of the Chabahar base and the start of launches from the Chabahar base, our access to different space orbits will be greatly opened, and as a result, we will be able to increase the number of launches and have a variety of orbiting, including different orbital slopes and different orbital heights," he maintained.
He referred to the latest status of the two recently launched satellites Mahda and Suraya.
"Currently, communication with both satellites is optimally established. The received data also show the correct functioning of the subsystems. Receiving these data is very important for us because by analyzing them, in addition to checking how the systems and subsystems work, possible faults and problems are also analyzed and checked, and the result of these checks can be very effective for newer and more updated designs in future satellites," Mehr cited Salarieh as saying.
