Iran Successfully Launches Orbital Transfer Unit via Simorgh Rocket
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's Simorgh rocket successfully launched the Saman-1 orbital transfer unit (OTU) into an elliptical orbit, along with two additional payloads.
The launch took place early Friday from the Imam Khomeini Space Center, delivering Saman-1 and its two auxiliary payloads—a CubeSat and a research package—into an orbit with an apogee of 410 kilometers and a perigee of 300 kilometers, state media reported.
The Simorgh rocket, a two-stage liquid-fueled launcher developed by the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, achieved this milestone in its eighth launch.
Carrying a combined payload weight of approximately 300 kilograms, the successful multi-payload deployment sets a new national record for payload capacity, officials confirmed.
Saman-1 is designed as a practical step toward transferring satellites to higher altitudes.
Further details on the unit's performance will be disclosed gradually following operational assessments, authorities added.
