Russia successfully launches 53 satellites including 2 Iranian satellites into space

Europe, News November 8, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

3 minute read

Russian space agency Roscosmos successfully launched a Soyuz-2.1 rocket on November 5, 2024. The rocket, launched from Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East region, carried a payload of 53 satellites into space, including two Iranian satellites.

Aboard the Soyuz-2.1 rocket were two Iranian satellites: Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging satellite, and Hodhod, a small communications satellite. The mission also included two Russian Ionosfera-M satellites, which are designed to monitor space weather around Earth, and a joint Russian-Chinese student satellite, Druzhba ATURK.

The launch of Iranian satellites through a Russian rocket marks a significant milestone in the expansion of space cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. The Iranian satellites are the first to be launched on behalf of the private sector in Iran, with the Kowsar satellite being built by Omidfaza, a private Iranian company.

According to Iran’s official news agency IRNA, the Kowsar satellite was developed in 2019 and has an expected lifespan of three years. Meanwhile, the Hodhod satellite is expected to operate for four years.

In the past, Russia has been integral to Iran’s space ambitions. In 2022, a Russian rocket launched the Khayyam satellite, an Iranian Earth observation satellite that was manufactured in Russia at Tehran’s request.

Before that, Russia had launched the Pars-1 satellite, a research satellite designed to scan Iran’s topography from orbit. The success of these launches reflects a broader trend of Russian support for Iran’s space program, which continues to grow despite international scrutiny.

Iran’s civilian space program has experienced a series of setbacks, with five consecutive failed launches under the Simorgh program, a satellite-carrying rocket initiative. However, a separate Iranian space program run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seen more success. The IRGC’s space program has managed to conduct successful launches from a military base located outside of Shahroud, near Tehran.

*^{The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with 36 OneWeb satellites is installed on the launch pad at Vostochny. (Image Credit: Glavkosmos/Facebook)}*

Tensions surrounding Iran’s space activities and its relationship with Russia have escalated recently, especially as Russia’s role in the war in Ukraine continues to draw international attention. Iran has been accused by both Ukraine and Western nations of providing Moscow with drones that have been used in attacks against Ukrainian targets.

The growing military and space collaboration between Russia and Iran is seen by some as a reflection of the increasingly close strategic partnership between the two nations, which is rapidly expanding amid Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation.

This latest satellite launch also comes at a time of broader geopolitical developments. Russia and Iran are set to further deepen their cooperation with the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” which is expected to take place during the upcoming visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Moscow.

Despite facing international sanctions, Iran has increasingly relied on foreign partnerships to achieve its space goals. The successful placement of the Kowsar and Hodhod satellites into orbit could mark a turning point in Iran’s efforts to enhance its satellite infrastructure, enabling the country to bolster its capabilities in both communication and surveillance.

As Russia and Iran continue to build their strategic partnership, both countries are likely to expand their cooperation in space and beyond. The launch of Iranian satellites on a Russian rocket is just one example of how their collaboration could evolve in the coming years, offering Iran critical access to advanced space technologies while also serving Russia’s geopolitical interests in the region.