Minister: Light satellites set to be launched as part of Soleimani constellation project
Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Sattar Hashemi said on Tuesday that Iran plans to launch several light satellites this year as part of its “Soleimani” satellite constellation, outlining the government’s focus on targeted launches and practical services for the public.
Hashemi told IRNA that the Soleimani satellite network would mature step by step, with development of its components led by the Iranian Space Agency and the Space Research Institute.
Launches using both domestic and foreign carriers are on the agenda, he added.
“In the Soleimani constellation project, several light satellites will be launched into space this year,” Hashemi said. “Our focus in the government is on purposeful launches and providing effective services to the people.”
Hashemi compared the satellite sector to communications technology, stressing the need for constant upgrades. “If communications are established in a village today, as technology generations advance, the needs of that region must also be updated,” he said. “Satellites that once supported only minimal connectivity must now provide suitable, high-quality bandwidth.”
Beyond infrastructure, the ministry is also prioritizing content production and development for the first time in the current government, Hashemi said, adding that the executive framework for the initiative is being finalized.
Iran’s space program stands as a testament to phenomenal scientific progress, having achieved remarkable technological breakthroughs despite decades of illegal Western-imposed sanctions.
The space program, embodying national resilience and technological prowess, is poised for a landmark year with the planned launches of its advanced Kowsar, Zafar, and Paya satellites.
Together, such spacecraft will form a sophisticated constellation designed to revolutionize the country’s growing capabilities in earth observation, precision agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
The planned launches of the stated satellites within the current Iranian calendar year mark a major milestone, demonstrating the nation’s growing self-reliance.