Self-reliance and awareness of domestic needs, adherence to the plan with close cooperation between the state and the private sector, as well as practical orientation already at the development stage, are obvious factors underlying Iran’s scientific and technological success. They have allowed the Islamic Republic to become a developed regional power. On January 17, 2025, Russia and Iran agreed on strategic cooperation, which will undoubtedly affect the field of aerospace technologies, which has traditionally received great attention in the Islamic Republic.
Attempts to explore outer space were made in Iran as early as the Early Middle Ages. The work of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi “Zij al- Sindhind” dates back to the 8th century. This work contains tables of the movement of the Sun, Moon, and five planets known at that time. The efforts of local thinkers to explore space continued until the 16th and 17th centuries, when Baha al-Din Muhammad ibn Husayn al-Amili wrote “Explanation of the Celestial Spheres” and many other treatises. In “Explanation…” al-Amili noted the possibility of the Earth's rotation around its axis.
The modern era has seen many aerospace achievements in the country. In 2003, the Iranian Space Agency was established, and a little later, a plan for a space program was published. As a result of cooperation between Russia and Iran, the “Sina-1” satellite was launched into space in 2005. Since then, Iran has built many satellites. The first satellite launched independently in 2009 using the “Safir-1A” (Messenger-1A) launch vehicle was the “Omid” (Hope) technical demonstrator. Other Iranian developments include the “Kavoshgar’ (Explorer) suborbital launch vehicle, the “Rasad-1” (Observation-1) and “Navid” (Prospect) satellites, and others.
“Kavoshgar” upper-atmosphere rocket is one of Iran's most impressive aerospace achievements, with the goal of sending humans into space. The Safir-1A was Iran's first rocket capable of launching satellites into orbit, making the country the ninth country to have independent infrastructure in the field. The first-stage engines of another Iranian launch vehicle, the “Simorgh” (Phoenix), have enhanced thrust, about four times greater than that of the “Safir”.
Development of the “Phoenix” began in 2010 by the Aerospace Industries Organization, one of the agencies of Iran dealing with issues of air and space exploration. Other similar organizations are the already mentioned Iranian Space Agency and the Iran Aviation and Space Industries Association. The Supreme Council for Space Affairs exercises central control over aerospace activities.
In 2013, Iran sent its first monkey into space, named Pishgam (Pioneer). It reached an altitude of 120 km above the Earth, flying to “Kavoshgar Pishgam”. In the same year, the macaque Fargam (Successful) flew into space, but already on the rocket “Kavoshgar Pajuhesh”. In 2015, the latest satellite, “Fajr” (Dawn), was launched into orbit to collect images, carrying an experimental Iranian-made navigation system. This launch took place on February 2, the National Day of Space Technology in Iran — the sixth anniversary of the first success.
The Iranian space program has also had its share of failed projects. For example, the “Toloo-1” imaging satellite in 2017 and the “Payam” (Message) measuring satellite in 2019 were unsuccessful. The second failure in 2019 was the launch of the “Doosti” (Friendship) satellite. The “Zafar-1” (Winner-1) probe was launched in February 2020 on the “Simorgh” rocket, but failed to reach the required speed. However, the “Noor” (Beam) military satellite launches in March 2020 were successful.
“Khayyam” spacecraft reached orbit in July 2022 aboard a “Soyuz” rocket launched from Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome. Named after the Persian poet and scientist Omar Khayyam, the satellite was tasked with monitoring national borders, increasing agricultural productivity, monitoring water resources, and predicting natural disasters. At the time, U.S. media reported that Russia “plans to use the satellite for months” as part of a special military operation in Ukraine.
“All orders related to the management and operation of this satellite will be given by Iranian specialists from the Iranian Ministry of Communications immediately after the launch,” the Iranian Space Agency said in response to the allegations. The United States is most concerned about Iran's missile technology capable of launching spacecraft into orbit. They believe that the Iranian space program is intended for military purposes. Tehran maintains that its aerospace activities are peaceful, in line with a UN Security Council resolution.
The first task set by Iran in the field of air and space exploration is to understand the size and order of the universe and the heavens. To discover the wisdom and power of the Creator of the world through the dissemination of science and technology and to explore space. Among Iran's goals are also the implementation of manned space flights and sending a man into near-earth orbit based on the achievements of Iranian science, with the participation of the Muslim world and international cooperation. As well as many other tasks related to the implementation of the scientific and technological capabilities of the Islamic Republic.
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