ISA chief outlines progress as Iran builds more than 30 satellites
Iran is developing more than 30 satellites as it seeks to expand its domestic space industry and broaden the use of satellite technology across different sectors, the head of the Iranian Space Agency said on Sunday.
Hassan Salarieh, head of the agency, said the projects were being carried out by Iranian specialists, whom he described as the country's main asset in the space industry. He made the remarks in the northeastern city of Nishapur.
"Iran's space industry has become a domestic, knowledge-based industry relying on local expertise and manpower over more than two decades of activity, and several programs are underway to develop the industry and its applications across different sectors," said Salarieh, who also serves as deputy communications and information technology minister.
Salarieh said the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology was pursuing plans to develop a space-based economy, including an economy built around data and satellite imagery.
Several satellites with imaging resolutions of around one meter or better are currently under development, he said. Satellite constellations for emergency and critical communications, along with other projects, have also been defined by the ministry and are being developed in cooperation with the private sector and other organizations.
Salarieh said Iran was among 10 to 12 countries capable of building satellites and launch vehicles, launching satellites, operating launch sites, controlling satellites in orbit and receiving their data.
He outlined several achievements in the country's space sector over the past two years, including its first orbital maneuver using propulsion and the launch of its first heavy payload, weighing about 300 kilograms.
He also cited advances in the technology of the Simorgh and Qaem 100 launch vehicles, built by Iran's Defense Ministry.
Other milestones included the first launch of the fully indigenous Nahid-2 communications satellite and its performance in orbit.
The triple launch of the Paya, Zafar and Kowsar satellites, along with the first launches by the private sector, were also among the developments he highlighted.