Russian rocket launches Iranian satellites into orbit amid expanding ties
Kyiv • UNN
A Russian Soyuz-2.1 rocket has launched two Iranian satellites into orbit along with other spacecraft. The launch took place against the backdrop of deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
A Russian rocket has sent a payload of satellites into orbit, including two from Iran, reflecting growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, Al Jazeera reports, UNN writes.
Details
According to the Russian space agency ROSKOSMOS, the rocket was successfully launched.
The Soyuz-2.1 spacecraft reportedly launched on schedule from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia's Far East and placed its payload into the target orbit nine minutes after launch on Tuesday.
"ROSKOSMOS reported that two Russian Ionosphere-M satellites designed to monitor space weather around the Earth and 53 small satellites, including two from Iran, were successfully launched into orbit.
Among the 53 small satellites, two Iranian satellites were identified as Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging satellite, and Hodhod, a small communications satellite. A Russian-Chinese student satellite, Druzhba ATURK, was also launched into orbit.
The Iranian satellites were the first to be launched on behalf of the country's private sector, with Kowsar being manufactured by Omidfaza, which began designing the satellite in 2019, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
According to IRNA, Kowsar's contract is for three years, and Hodhod is to work for four years.
The latest satellite launch comes as Russia and Iran expand their ties in various fields and amid growing criticism from Ukraine and the West that Tehran has provided Moscow with drones to use in attacks on Ukrainian targets.
Moscow and Tehran are also planning to further strengthen their ties through a "comprehensive strategic partnership" to be signed during Iranian President Massoud Peseshkian's planned visit to Russia, the date of which has not yet been confirmed.
Addendum
In 2022, a Russian rocket launched an Iranian Earth observation satellite called Khayyam, which was built in Russia at Tehran's request. In February, Russia launched another Iranian satellite called Pars-1 into orbit. Pars-1 is a research satellite that will scan Iran's topography from orbit, Iranian state media reported at the time.
The Russian satellite launches follow a series of failed launches by Iran's civilian space program in recent years, including five consecutive failed launches for the Simorgh program, a satellite launch vehicle.
A separate Iranian space program, run by the country's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has conducted successful launches from a military base outside of Shahrud, located east of the capital Tehran.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press shows that Israel may have bombed the site during its October 26 attack on Iran. Iran said at the time that the Israeli attack caused minimal damage.
