Chamran-1 satellite launched by Iran amid western concerns over missile technology.
On September 14, Chamran-1 research satellite successfully launched into orbit by Iran using a QAIM-100 rocket developed by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
The launch is a milestone in Iran’s aerospace programme.
The 60-kg Chamran-1 satellite was placed in a 550-km orbit and is designed to test “hardware and software systems for orbital maneuvering technology.”
The Qaem-100 rocket, a solid-fuel, three-stage vehicle, was earlier used for another successful satellite launch in January.
The satellite launch comes against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The launch has faced scrutiny and criticism from Western countries over concerns that the technology could be used for ballistic missile development.
The launch is also significant because it is the first under Iran’s new reformist President Massoud Pezeshkian, after his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash earlier this year.
