Iran’s Chamran-1 satellite blasts off into orbit
On Saturday, September 14, Iran successfully launched a research satellite into orbit using a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guards, state media reported. The Chamran-1 satellite was deployed aboard the Qaem-100 satellite carrier, reaching a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit. Initial signals from the satellite have been received, indicating a successful deployment.
The Chamran-1, weighing 60 kilograms (132 pounds), is primarily tasked with testing hardware and software systems for orbital maneuvering technology, according to Iranian state media. This launch follows January’s deployment of the Sorayya satellite, which achieved a 750-kilometer orbit, marking Iran’s highest orbital achievement to date.
This satellite launch comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Western nations. The United States and European countries have accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, potentially for use in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine—a claim Iran has firmly denied.
The U.S. military has expressed concerns that the long-range ballistic technology used in satellite launches could be repurposed for launching long-range weapons, including nuclear warheads. Iran, however, maintains that its satellite programs are not a cover for ballistic missile development and continues to assert that it has never sought to develop nuclear weapons.
