Iran Plans Launch of Three Domestic Satellites on Dec. 28

Iran is set to launch three domestically built satellites into space on December 28, the Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA), Hassan Salarieh, announced.

The launches will take place from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia using a Soyuz launch vehicle, placing the satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of approximately 500 kilometers, The Caspian Post reports, citing Iranian media.

Zafar‑2 and Paya satellites were successfully integrated onto the separation block of Russian Soyuz launch vehicle. All related integration tests were completed successfully.

The Zafar 2 satellite, a product of researchers at the Iran University of Science and Technology, is equipped with more advanced imaging and telecommunication payloads compared to its previous version. This satellite is designed to enhance Iran's capabilities in high-resolution data acquisition and orbital communications.

The Paya satellite is another key part of this mission, featuring an imaging resolution of 5 meters for black-and-white and 10 meters for color images. Its operational scope covers critical sectors such as agriculture, water resource management, environmental monitoring, and urban mapping.

Furthermore, the upgraded Kowsar satellite, designed and manufactured by an Iranian knowledge-based company, represents an advanced remote-sensing platform. This specific version incorporates a dual-mission profile, combining the remote-sensing capabilities of the original Kowsar with the Internet of Things (IoT) functionality previously integrated into the Hodehod satellite.