Iran is set to launch two new satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, developed by the private sector, marking significant progress in its civil space program.
Dr. Hasan Salarieh, the head of Iran's Space Agency, announced on Wednesday that this year promises to be productive for the launch of Iranian satellites, particularly those developed by private entities.
"The Kowsar satellite is a sensing satellite, and the Iranian Space Agency has finalized a contract to purchase its imagery," he said. "This initiative is a significant step in supporting the private sector and fostering a market for its space products."
The Hodhod satellite, designed for both research and communication purposes, will be launched simultaneously with Kowsar. The precise schedule for these launches will be announced soon.
Salarieh also mentioned that several other satellites currently under development by the private sector are slated for launch within the current Iranian year.
Despite facing sanctions from Western nations, Iran has achieved significant milestones in its civil space program. It ranks among the top 10 nations worldwide with the capability to develop and deploy satellites.
Earlier this year, Iran successfully launched the indigenous Mahda research satellite, along with two research payloads, using the domestically produced Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite launch vehicle (SLV). Mahda, weighing 32 kilograms, is tasked with testing satellite subsystems, assessing the Simorgh SLV's payload deployment capabilities, and evaluating the performance and reliability of new designs and homegrown technologies in space.
Previously, the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) placed the Soraya satellite into an orbit 750 kilometers above Earth within 11 minutes. The research satellite, produced by the Iranian Space Agency, was launched aboard the Qaem-100 SLV, a three-stage, solid-fuel vehicle developed by the IRGC Aerospace Force.
