Iranian Space Research Center Signs Contract to Build New Satellite


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC) signed a contract with the Iranian Space Organization to build a new satellite named “Nahid-2”.

According to the agreement, the ISRC will produce the new satellite and the Iranian Space Organization will manage and supervise the construction process.

Nahid 2 is a geostationary communications satellite. Weighing 100 kilograms, it will have a two-year operational life.

Nahid-1 has been already constructed and is ready for launch.

Iran successfully launched into orbit its first indigenous data-processing satellite, Omid (Hope), back on February 2, 2009.

As part of a comprehensive plan to develop its space program, Iran also successfully launched its second satellite, dubbed Rassad (Observation), into the earth’s orbit in June 2011. Rassad’s mission was to take images of the earth and transmit them along with telemetry information to ground stations.

The country’s third domestically-built Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (Harbinger of Science and Industry) satellite was sent into orbit in February 2012.

In January 2013, Iran sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule code-named Pishgam (Pioneer).

And later in December 2013, the country’s scientists successfully sent a monkey, called ‘Fargam’ or Auspicious, into space aboard Pajoheshan (Research) indigenous rocket and returned the live simian back to earth safely.