On Saturday, Iran successfully launched its Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit, according to state media reports. This marks Iran's second successful satellite launch of the year.
In February, Iran had already achieved a significant milestone by launching its first domestically developed satellite, Kavoshgar-3. This satellite was designed to test telemetric systems and a remote operator interface.
The recent launch of the Chamran-1 satellite comes amid international scrutiny. The United States and several European countries have accused Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia for its conflict with Ukraine, a claim that Iran has firmly denied.
The Chamran-1 satellite, built by Iranian Electronics Industries, was placed into a 550-kilometer (340-mile) orbit. Earlier this year, Iran also launched the Sorayya satellite into a higher orbit of 750 kilometers, which was considered a major achievement for the country’s space program.
In recent developments, the Pentagon has suggested that the long-range ballistic technology used by Iran for satellite launches could potentially be adapted for rockets carrying nuclear warheads. Iran has strongly refuted these claims, asserting that its satellite program is not a cover for developing rockets or nuclear weapons.
Iran, which is known for having one of the largest missile programs in the region, has experienced several setbacks in its space program due to technical issues. Despite these challenges, the country continues to advance its space capabilities with its ongoing satellite launches.
