Iran’s growing confidence in space can be seen in the report that the IRGC is planning on launching not just one, but multiple satellite into space within the next year.
Iran intends to put another satellite into space, with the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aiming to take a role in the project, Iranian media have reported.
The reports show that the IRGC is seeking to take more of a role and command of the space program, as it has military elements to it.
According to reports, Iran doesn’t just plan to launch one satellite, but potentially plans on launching several in the next year alone.
Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force Amir Ali Hajizadeh announced these plans on Sunday, praising Iran’s drone and missile capabilities, showing that the various Iranian programs are interlinked.
Iran’s growing confidence in space
The reports appear to illustrate Iran’s growing confidence in space, and the ability to launch satellites is a point of pride for Iran.
It is a symbolic event, just as it is an event with possible military overtones that threatens the region.
The satellites themselves can be used for reconnaissance, and Iran’s launchers may have wider applications. The use of different types of Satellite Launch Vehicles is important.
Iran developed the Zuljanah SLV in recent years and has also used the Safir-2 SLV during a test in 2016.
In June of this year, Iran said it was preparing to use the Zuljanah solid-fuel satellite launch rocket. They also claimed to fire three “research” cargoes into space last December.
It’s important to recall that recent tests have often failed. The SLV that was tested in June apparently went through several failed tests even though Iran says the Suljanah can put a satellite weighing some 220kg into orbit.
The IRGC launched two satellites into low-earth orbit (LEO) in the last several years: the Noor in April 2020 and the Noor 2 in March 2022.