TEHRAN: Iran on Saturday (Sep 14) blasted a brand new analysis satellite tv for pc into orbit, state media mentioned, within the newest such growth for an aerospace programme that has lengthy confronted Western criticism.
“The Chamran-1 analysis satellite tv for pc was efficiently launched and put into orbit by the Ghaem-100 provider,” state tv mentioned.
The satellite tv for pc, which weighs round 60kg, is designed to check {hardware} and software program programs for orbital manoeuvre expertise, the TV report mentioned.
The system was designed and constructed by Iranian Electronics Industries affiliated with the defence ministry, state TV mentioned.
Western governments together with the US have repeatedly warned Iran towards such launches, saying the identical expertise can be utilized for ballistic missiles, together with ones designed to ship a nuclear warhead.
Iran has countered that it’s not searching for nuclear weapons and that its satellite tv for pc and rocket launches are for civil or defence functions solely.
The Ghaem-100 rocket which carried the newest satellite tv for pc is manufactured by the aerospace organisation of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, an arm of the army.
The provider is the nation’s first three-stage solid-fuel satellite tv for pc launcher, and official media reported its use in January to ship a satellite tv for pc for the primary time into an orbit above 500km.
Iran has for years been advancing its aerospace actions, insisting they’re peaceable and in accordance with United Nations Safety Council resolutions.
In February, Russia put into orbit an Iranian distant sensing and imaging satellite tv for pc, drawing condemnation from the US.
On the time, Iran’s telecommunications minister mentioned Iran had carried out a dozen satellite tv for pc launches over the earlier two years.
Iran in January mentioned it concurrently despatched three satellites into orbit, practically per week after the launch of a analysis satellite tv for pc by the Guards.
The Islamic republic has struggled with a number of satellite tv for pc launch failures up to now.
Iran has suffered years of crippling Western sanctions, particularly after its arch-foe the US, beneath then-president Donald Trump, in 2018 unilaterally deserted a landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and main powers.
Iran on Thursday summoned 4 European ambassadors after they imposed new sanctions over its alleged provide of ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in Ukraine, which Tehran denies.
