Iran Launches Biological Capsule into Space on Back of Home-Made Launcher
The 500-kilogram capsule was launched to an altitude of 130 kilometers from the Earth's surface. The capsule has been developed by the Aerospace Research Institute of Iran, affiliated to the Science, Research and Technology Ministry.
The development is an important step towards sending humans into space in line with the Iranian government’s plan to revive various sectors of the space industry and promote bio-space know-how.
Also, it was a test for space technologies in the areas of launch, recovery and speed control systems, impact shields, capsule aerodynamic design, and the systems related to control and monitoring of biological conditions.
Salman launcher has been built by the Aerospace Industries Organization, a subsidiary of the Iranian Defense Ministry. It is capable of launching bio-capsules weighing 500 kilograms.
Iran is standing among the top 10 countries leading the space industry and among the 7 states leading the bio-space.
Iran sent its first bio-capsule containing living creatures into space in February 2010, using an Explorer (Kavoshgar) carrier.
Iran launched its first satellite, called Omid (literally meaning hope), in 2009. Rasad (literally meaning observation) satellite was also sent into orbit in 2011.
In 2012, Iran successfully put its third domestically manufactured satellite, named Navid (literally meaning promise), into orbit.
The first and most advanced homegrown remote-sensing satellite is Pars-1, which has been designed and constructed by the researchers of the Iranian Space Research Center.
Pars-1 is supposed to take pictures of all parts of the country using a high-resolution 15-meter-camera and send its photos from a 500-kilometer distance to the earth stations using a high-powered telecommunication transceiver.
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