TEHRAN – Iran has successfully put for the first time three homegrown satellites into space orbits, getting close to reaching the Geostationary Orbit (GEO), also known as geosynchronous orbit.
The 32-kilogram Mahda, and the nano Keyhan-2 and Hatef-1 research satellites, which weigh less than 10 kg, were put at altitudes between 450 and 1,100 kilometers above the Earth’s surface on Sunday.
The latest launch, carried out using Simorgh satellite carrier, reached the Earth's elliptical orbit, making it distinctive from the country’s previous launches that put satellites into space orbits with the altitude of 400 to 750 kms. above the Earth’s surface.
It is regarded as a significant move by Iran, as it marks the first step by the country to reach the Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), and then access the GEO that has an approximate altitude of 36,000 kms. above the Earth’s surface.
GTO is an elliptical orbit that is used to reach GEO. It has features that can be used to move satellites to other orbits such as GEO with the least amount of energy.
Following the inaugural of President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration in August 2021, Iran’s Supreme Council of Space resumed its meetings after 10 years.
The meetings, chaired by the president, have already approved the plan to reach GEO by the Iranian calendar year 1404 (to start in March 2025). (IRNA)
