Iran has achieved a significant milestone in the field of aerospace by successfully launching a satellite

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have achieved a significant milestone in their aerospace program by successfully launching a research satellite into a higher orbit. The satellite, named Soraya, was launched using the Ghaem-100 satellite carrier of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This marks the first time that Iran has placed a satellite in orbits higher than 500 kilometers.

The satellite, weighing approximately 50 kilograms, was placed in orbit 750 kilometers above Earth. The launch has drawn criticism from the United States, which has repeatedly warned Iran about the potential dual-use nature of the technology. However, Iran maintains that its satellite and rocket launches are solely for civil or defense purposes and denies any intention to develop nuclear weapons. The Ghaem-100 carrier rocket, manufactured by the Revolutionary Guards’ aerospace organization, is Iran’s first three-stage solid-fuel satellite launcher.

Despite facing previous failures in satellite launches, Tehran received strong criticism from the United States after successfully launching its first military satellite, Nour-1, into orbit in April 2020.

Various Western governments have also expressed their concerns regarding Iran’s aerospace program.

Tehran has been severely impacted by US sanctions since the withdrawal of Washington from the historic nuclear deal in 2018. The nuclear deal had provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities, aimed at preventing the development of nuclear weapons.

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