Iran Launches 3 Satellites Into Space by Kamryn Sixberry
Iran's Secretariat of the Government Information Council announced the launching of 3 satellites on Monday, January 29 at a statement. These 3 satellites were launched simultaneously from atop one of the nation’s rockets. Taking place at the Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s rural Semnan province.
This was due to conflicts that involved Iranian-backed militia groups. While facing increased pressure by its theocratic government to take action. Along with tensions rising over the continued war between Israel and Hamas.
These satellites reached Earth's low orbit with each satellite’s altitude reaching 280 to 680 miles according to the statement made from the Iranian Secretariat of the Government Information Council. The Satellites that were launched off the Simorgh rockets were the first ones to make a successful launch and orbital mission after various tries and failures.
This launch of three satellites marks the second launch made by Iran this month with the first launch being on January 20, where a satellite known as Sorayaa was launched, which has reached the highest orbit Iran has successfully reached yet. The satellite's intention is not known, but is being stated that it is capable of remote sensing.
It is speculated that Iran is using these launched satellites to promote the nation’s long range ballistic missile program. According to AP News, a statement made from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom stated, “We have long standing concerns over Iran’s activity missile technologies that are capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” also stating “These concerns are reinforced by Iran's continued nuclear escalation beyond all creditable civilian justification.”
These three satellites were named Mahda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1. The satellite named Mahda is being used as a research satellite while satellites Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1 are being used as nanosatellites. These nanosatellites are being used to focus on global positioning and communication. With Iran’s Information and Communications Technology Minister Isa Zarepour saying that satellite Mahda has already successfully sent signals back to Earth.
There had been five failures of the Simorgh orbital mission until there was finally the success of the three satellites Mahda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1 being sent into the Earth’s orbit.
This was due to conflicts that involved Iranian-backed militia groups. While facing increased pressure by its theocratic government to take action. Along with tensions rising over the continued war between Israel and Hamas.
These satellites reached Earth's low orbit with each satellite’s altitude reaching 280 to 680 miles according to the statement made from the Iranian Secretariat of the Government Information Council. The Satellites that were launched off the Simorgh rockets were the first ones to make a successful launch and orbital mission after various tries and failures.
This launch of three satellites marks the second launch made by Iran this month with the first launch being on January 20, where a satellite known as Sorayaa was launched, which has reached the highest orbit Iran has successfully reached yet. The satellite's intention is not known, but is being stated that it is capable of remote sensing.
It is speculated that Iran is using these launched satellites to promote the nation’s long range ballistic missile program. According to AP News, a statement made from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom stated, “We have long standing concerns over Iran’s activity missile technologies that are capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” also stating “These concerns are reinforced by Iran's continued nuclear escalation beyond all creditable civilian justification.”
These three satellites were named Mahda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1. The satellite named Mahda is being used as a research satellite while satellites Kayhan-2 and Hatef-1 are being used as nanosatellites. These nanosatellites are being used to focus on global positioning and communication. With Iran’s Information and Communications Technology Minister Isa Zarepour saying that satellite Mahda has already successfully sent signals back to Earth.
There had been five failures of the Simorgh orbital mission until there was finally the success of the three satellites Mahda, Kayhan-2, and Hatef-1 being sent into the Earth’s orbit.