In a landmark development in Tehran’s expanding space program, Iran has successfully launched three domestically developed observation satellites into orbit using a Russian Soyuz rocket.
The satellites – Paya, Zafar-2 and Kowsar 1.5 – were launched from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome and are now orbiting Earth at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers, according to Iran’s state media, IRNA.
Similarly, Iranian officials were quoted as saying that the mission was conducted for civilian and research purposes
Sources with knowledge of the matter added that the satellites were designed by Iran’s private sector and academic institutions, aimed at earth observation, environmental monitoring and resource management.
What are Iran’s Paya, Zafar-2 and Kowsar 1.5 satellites?
Weighing around 150 kg, Paya is the most advanced and heaviest imaging satellite built by Iran to date. Packed with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to improve image resolution, it will be used for water resource monitoring, mapping and environmental analysis.
On the other hand, Zafar-2 was developed by university researchers, while Kowsar 1.5 is an upgraded high-resolution satellite produced by a private Iranian company.
The Soyuz rocket was chosen because of its reliability for carrying sensitive payloads, the Fars news agency reported, adding that Iran has carried out ten satellite launches over the past two years, including an earlier mission from the same Russian launch facility in July.
Officials further explained that the satellites will be used for civilian applications such as agricultural planning, disaster response during floods and earthquakes, and tracking environmental changes.
