Iran launched this NAHID-2 telecommunications satellite this Friday, July 25. The operation took place from the basis of Vostotchny, in Russia, thanks to a Soyuz rocket.
Nahid-2 weighs 110 kg. Iranian engineers have designed it to test transmission systems and stay in orbit for five years. It is part of a joint mission which includes two Russian satellites (Ionosfera-M3 and M4) and 18 other satellites from several countries.
The Iranians made the components of the satellite themselves. The propulsion system, lithium-ion batteries and thermal insulation materials are all of national origin. The engine can correct the altitude of the satellite up to 50 km, which extends its lifespan.
This launch is added to a series of similar operations. In 2024, Iran sent an imagery satellite in the Pars-I space, then Chamran-1 with an Iranian manufacturer.
The same day, Iranian diplomats must meet French, British and German representatives in Türkiye to discuss nuclear. Iran says its space activities are peaceful. But Western countries fear military use, especially because of technologies close to those of ballistic missiles.