Simorgh (rocket)
Encyclopedia
Simorgh is an Iran
ian expendable
small-capacity orbit
al carrier rocket
, which was scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2010. It was unveiled by Iraninan President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on 3 February 2010, as part of celebrations of the first anniversary of the launch of Omid
, the first indigenously-launched Iranian satellite.
The Simorgh rocket is 27 metres (88.6 ft) long, and has a mass of 77 tonnes (85 tons). Its first stage is powered by four main engines, each generating up to 29000 kilograms (63,934.1 lb) of thrust, plus a fifth which will be used for attitude control, which provides an additional 13600 kilograms (29,982.9 lb). At liftoff, these engines will generate a total of 130000 kilograms (286,600.9 lb) of thrust. Simorgh is capable of putting a 60 kilograms (132.3 lb) payload into a 500 kilometres (310.7 mi) low Earth orbit
. According to ISNA
the engine could be used in future rockets capable of carrying 700 kilograms (1,543.2 lb) satellites into 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) orbits.
The first flight of the Simorgh rocket, which was at one stage scheduled to occur in March 2010, will carry Tolou, an experimental communications satellite
. A later launch is expected to carry Mesbah-2.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian expendable
Expendable launch system
An expendable launch system is a launch system that uses an expendable launch vehicle to carry a payload into space. The vehicles used in expendable launch systems are designed to be used only once , and their components are not recovered for re-use after launch...
small-capacity orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
al carrier rocket
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
, which was scheduled to make its maiden flight in 2010. It was unveiled by Iraninan President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on 3 February 2010, as part of celebrations of the first anniversary of the launch of Omid
Omid
Omid is a common Persian male given name, meaning hope...
, the first indigenously-launched Iranian satellite.
The Simorgh rocket is 27 metres (88.6 ft) long, and has a mass of 77 tonnes (85 tons). Its first stage is powered by four main engines, each generating up to 29000 kilograms (63,934.1 lb) of thrust, plus a fifth which will be used for attitude control, which provides an additional 13600 kilograms (29,982.9 lb). At liftoff, these engines will generate a total of 130000 kilograms (286,600.9 lb) of thrust. Simorgh is capable of putting a 60 kilograms (132.3 lb) payload into a 500 kilometres (310.7 mi) low Earth orbit
Low Earth orbit
A low Earth orbit is generally defined as an orbit within the locus extending from the Earth’s surface up to an altitude of 2,000 km...
. According to ISNA
ISNA
ISNA can refer to:Abbreviations/acronyms* Iranian Students' News Agency* Intersex Society of North America* Islamic Society of North America* Indigenous Sovereign Nation Assembly, an assembly of indigenous nations in New Zealand and vicinityPlaces...
the engine could be used in future rockets capable of carrying 700 kilograms (1,543.2 lb) satellites into 1000 kilometres (621.4 mi) orbits.
The first flight of the Simorgh rocket, which was at one stage scheduled to occur in March 2010, will carry Tolou, an experimental communications satellite
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
. A later launch is expected to carry Mesbah-2.
See also
- International rankings of Iran in Science and Technology
- 2010 in spaceflight2010 in spaceflightThe year 2010 saw a number of notable events in spaceflight. These included the first test flight of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, which is intended to conduct commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, and the...
- Asian space raceAsian space raceSeveral Asian countries have national space programs, and they are considered to be competing with each other to achieve scientific and technological advancements in space. The media has occasionally called this competition the Asian space race. The exploration of Outer space is of strategic...
- Iranian Space AgencyIranian Space AgencyThe Iranian Space Agency is Iran's governmental space agency. Iran is an active participant in the Asian space race and became an orbital-launch-capable nation in 2009...
- Safir (rocket)
- Comparison of small lift launch systems
- UnhaUnhaThe Unha or Eunha is a North Korean expendable carrier rocket, which experts say utilises the same delivery system as the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile...
