Iran observation satellite launched into orbit on Russian rocket
Tehran says Pars-1 ‘fully domestically developed,’ sent to space with Soyuz rocket, amid West’s concerns over Islamic Republic’s nuclear, missile capabilities
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran announced on Thursday the launch of a remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit from Russia, according to state media.
The launch of Pars-I with the Russian Soyuz-2.1b launcher was broadcast live by state television in Iran.
The satellite was launched “from Russia’s Vostochny launch base,” some 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) east of Moscow, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Iran’s Telecommunications Minister Issa Zareppur said Pars-I was “fully domestically developed” in Iran, which he said carried out a dozen satellite launches over the past two years.
The Iranian state TV said the 110-kilogram (242-pound) satellite has three cameras to take images for environmental, agricultural and other purposes.
It said the satellite will be put into orbit around the North and South Poles, synchronized to be in the same fixed position relative to the Sun, and will be fully functional after a calibration of its systems.
In January, Iran said it simultaneously launched three satellites into orbit, nearly a week after the launch of a research satellite by its Revolutionary Guards.
Western governments including the United States have repeatedly warned Iran against such launches, saying the same technology can be used for ballistic missiles, including ones designed to deliver a nuclear warhead.
Les cartes de la géopolitique mondiale sont rabattues, l'alliance Russo Iranienne décolle
La Russie lance le satellite d'imagerie le plus puissant jamais fabriqué par l'Iran, Soyouz va mettre en orbite le satellite Pars 1 pic.twitter.com/d67sx6gmKK— Berger Florian (@galamiou) February 29, 2024
Iran has countered that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and that its satellite and rocket launches are for civil or defense purposes only.
In August 2022, Russia launched Iran’s remote-sensing Khayyam satellite into orbit from Kazakhstan amid controversy that Moscow might use it to boost its surveillance of military targets in its war in Ukraine.
Moscow has sought to strengthen its alliances with other countries ostracized by the West, including Iran, which has been accused of supplying Moscow with armed drones for its offensive in Ukraine.
This month, the United States said it would soon impose new sanctions on Iran over its backing for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tehran denies the allegations.
