Safir (rocket) explained

Safir
Function:LEO launch vehicle
Manufacturer:Iranian Space Agency
Country-Origin:Iran
Height:22 m (72ft)
Diameter:1.25 m (4.10ft)
Mass:26,000 kg
Stages:2
Capacities:
Status:Retired
Sites:Semnan Space Center
Launches:7 (1 unconfirmed)
(+2 test flights)
Success:4
Fail:3 (1 unconfirmed)
First:17 August 2008
Last:5 February 2019
Stagedata:
Type:stage
Stageno:First
Engines:1 × modified Shahab-3 engine
Type:stage
Stageno:Second

The Safir (Persian: سفیر, meaning "ambassador") was the first Iranian expendable launch vehicle able to place a satellite in orbit.[1] The first successful orbital launch using the Safir launch system took place on 2 February 2009 when a Safir carrier rocket placed the Omid satellite into an orbit with a 245.2km (152.4miles) apogee.[2] [3] This made Iran the ninth nation capable of producing and launching a satellite.[4]

The Simorgh is a larger orbital launcher based on Safir technology which has since replaced the Safir, and is sometimes called the Safir-2.

Design and specifications

The Safir measures 1.25 meters in diameter, 22 meters in height and has a launching mass of 26 tons. The rocket consists of two stages; The first stage utilizes an upgraded Nodong/Shahab-3 type engine which burns a hypergolic combination of UDMH as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidant, producing 37 tons (363 kN; 82,500 lbf) of thrust. The second stage utilizes a pair of smaller engines (originally the Vernier engines of the R-27 Zyb Soviet SLBM[5]) burning the same fuel combination as the first stage and producing 3.5 tons (35 kN; 7700 lbf) of thrust. This configuration gives Safir the ability to inject a payload with a maximum weight of 50 kilograms into low Earth orbit.[6]

Variants

Kavoshgar-1

Kavoshgar-1 (Persian: کاوشگر ۱, "Explorer-1") was Safir's precursor used as a sounding rocket, a sub-orbital flight was conducted on 4 February 2008, as announced by state-run television. A launch on 25 February 2007 may also have been of the same type. The flight carried instruments to measure the higher atmosphere. The rocket launched on 4 February 2008 was a liquid-propellant-driven rocket, a derivative of the Shahab-3, that reached an altitude of 200–250 km in space, and successfully returned science data according to the Iranian News Agency.[7] [8]

On 19 February 2008, Iran offered new information about the rocket and announced that Kavoshgar-1 used a two staged rocket. The first stage separated after 100 seconds and returned to earth with the help of a parachute. The second stage continued its ascent to an altitude of 200 kilometers.[9]

Safir-1A

The Safir-1A is the first upgraded variant of the original Safir, these upgrades include, refinement of the second stage retro-rockets, stage separation systems, various sensors and telemetry systems, navigation and control systems, as well as increasing maximum orbit height from 250 to 275 kilometers.[10] [11]

Safir-1B

The Safir-1B is a further upgrade of the Safir-1A design, the first-stage engine has been upgraded and refined, resulting in an increase in thrust from 32 to 37tons (363 kN; 82,500 lbf), the second stage engine has been upgraded with thrust vector control capability and has been made more efficient. These upgrades have increased payload capability to 50 kilograms, and have increased maximum orbit height to 400 kilometers.

Retirement

During the unveiling ceremony of the Zuljanah satellite launch vehicle on the state TV, Seyed Ahmad Husseini, the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense's Aerospace Organization stated that the Safir Launch vehicle is in a state of retirement and no further launches are planned with this vehicle.[12] [13] [14]

Launch history

Safir has made eight launches so far, putting four satellites into orbit.

Test flights
Flight no.Date & time (UTC)PayloadConfigurationOutcomeRemarks
14 February 2008UnknownKavoshgar-1Successful suborbital test flight of Safir's precursor.
217 August 2008Unknown; may be boilerplateSafir-1Iranian officials assert it was a successful suborbital test carrying a boilerplate satellite. US defense officials assert the vehicle failed after first-stage powered flight.[15] [16]
Operational flights
Flight no.Date & time (UTC)PayloadConfigurationOutcomeAchieved orbitRemarks
12 February 2009 Omid27 kgSafir-1381.2 x 245.5 km, i 55.71°First successful orbital launch of Safir making Iran the ninth country to develop an indigenous satellite launch capability.[17]
215 June 2011 Rasad15.3 kgSafir-1A271 x 233 km, i 55.6°Rasad-1 was launched on the maiden flight of the Safir-1A
33 February 2012 Navid50 kgSafir-1B375 x 250 km, i 55°New configuration of the Safir carrier rocket, featuring a larger second stage with 20% more thrust.[18]
?Between 18 May and 21 June 2012???Satellite imagery shows a blast scar on launch pad, suggesting that there has been a launch. No officials have confirmed a launch. It may have been either an engine test or rocket failure at high altitude.[19]
52 February 2015 Fajr52 kgSafir-1B470 x 224 km, i 55.57°First Iranian satellite with orbital maneuverability using cold-gas thrusters.
65 February 2019 Doosti52 kgSafir-1BThe Deputy Minister of Defense in Iran claimed a successful launch.[20] Research associates at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies claimed the launch failed at some point after liftoff.[21]
(7)29 August 2019No payload[22] Safir-1BLaunch preparation accident.[23] [24]

See also

Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Liffey . Kevin . Hafezi . Parisa . 17 August 2008 . Iran says it has put first dummy satellite in orbit . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530153217/https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSHAF75296620080817 . 30 May 2023 . 17 August 2008 . .
  2. Web site: OMID Spacecraft - Trajectory Details . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209215607/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2009-004A . 9 December 2023 . NSSDCA Master Catalog . . 2009-004A .
  3. Web site: The Threat. https://web.archive.org/web/20091105194919/http://www.mda.mil/system/threat.html. dead. 2009-11-05. US Missile Defense Agency.
  4. Web site: Clark. Stephen. 2 February 2009. Iran Launches Omid Satellite Into Orbit. 2021-04-05. Space.com. en.
  5. Web site: Soviet R-27 SLBM and the reuse of its steering engines by North Korea and Iran. 2021-04-05. www.b14643.de.
  6. Web site: Safir-1A/B IRILV. 2021-04-05. www.b14643.de.
  7. Web site: ایران. پایگاه اطلاع رسانی شبکه خبر صدا و سیمای جمهوری اسلامی. 2015-04-06. نگاهی به توانمندی ایران در بخش موشک های ماهواره‌ بر و نظامی. 2021-04-05. Islamic Republic of Iran News Network. fa.
  8. News: 2008. Iran's Research Rocket Beams Back Science Data. Associated Press. Space.com. 2009-01-11.
  9. Web site: The Launch of the Iranian Kavoshgar Rocket. March 5, 2008. Yiftah Shapir. The Institute for National Security Studies. March 19, 2023.
  10. Web site: 1 February 2021 . "Zoljanah" ozv-e jadid-e eskadrān-e mahvāre-barhā-ye Irāni shod . fa:"ذوالجناح" عضو جدید اسکادران ماهواره‌برهای ایرانی شد . "Zoljanah" Became the New Member of the Iranian Satellite Carrier Squadron . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201232825/https://www.isna.ir/news/99111409999/ذوالجناح-عضو-جدید-اسکادران-ماهواره-برهای-ایرانی-شد . 1 February 2021 . 5 April 2021 . ایسنا . . fa .
  11. Web site: 18 August 2013 . Khānevāde-ye mahvāre-barhā-ye 'Safir' rā behtar beshenāsid . fa:خانواده ماهواره‌برهای 'سفیر' را بهتر بشناسید . Get to Know the 'Safir' Satellite Carrier Family Better . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421193124/https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/241834/خانواده-ماهواره-برهای-سفیر-را-بهتر-بشناسید . 21 April 2024 . 5 April 2021 . مشرق نیوز . fa .
  12. Web site: 29 January 2020 . Negāhi be mahvāre-barhā-ye Irāni (Safir va Simorgh) . fa:نگاهی به ماهواره برهای ایرانی (سفیر و سیمرغ) . A Look at Iranian Satellite Carriers (Safir and Simorgh) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421194635/http://www.astronomers.ir/4243/safirsimorgh-rocket/ . 21 April 2024 . 5 April 2021 . گروه آموزشی زانکو . fa-IR .
  13. Web site: 2020-01-28. "سفیر" رسما بازنشسته شد تا "سیمرغ" مهیای سفر فضایی شود/ طلسم استفاده ماهواره‌بر ایرانی از سوخت جامد با سریر و سروش می‌شکند؟ +عکس. 2021-04-05. مشرق نیوز. fa.
  14. Web site: Sokhanguy-e goruh-e fazāyi-ye vezārat-e defā: mahvāre-barhā-ye "Sarir" va "Sorush" ronamāyi mishavand / be donbāl-e mahvāre-bar-e sukhte jāmed hastim - akhbār-e nezāmi Def - akhbār-e siāsi Tasnim . fa:سخنگوی گروه فضایی وزارت دفاع: ماهواره‌برهای "سریر" و "سروش" رونمایی می‌شوند/ به دنبال ماهواره‌بر سوخت جامد هستیم- اخبار نظامی دف - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم . Spokesperson of the Space Group of the Ministry of Defense: "Sarir" and "Sorush" Satellite Carriers Will Be Unveiled / We Are Pursuing Solid Fuel Satellite Carriers - Military News Def - Political News . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240421193127/https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/11/07/2190870/سخنگوی-گروه-فضایی-وزارت-دفاع-ماهواره-برهای-سریر-و-سروش-رونمایی-می-شوند-به-دنبال-ماهواره-بر-سوخت-جامد-هستیم . 21 April 2024 . 5 April 2021 . خبرگزاری تسنیم Tasnim . fa .
  15. News: Iran launches satellite carrier. BBC News. 2008-08-17. 2008-08-17.
  16. Web site: Safir Data Sheet. https://web.archive.org/web/20100821064617/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/safir.html. usurped. August 21, 2010. Space Launch Report. 19 March 2018. 6 February 2018.
  17. Web site: move to http://host.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.606--> Issue 606. McDowell. Jonathan. Jonathan's Space Report. 2009-02-03.
  18. Web site: ماهواره ملي"نويد علم و صنعت"به‌فضا پرتاب شد . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101535/http://www1.jamejamonline.ir/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100803210565 . 2015-12-22 . 2012-02-03.
  19. News: Second Iranian satellite launch attempt in a month fails. Clark . Stephen. Spaceflight Now. 11 February 2019. 12 February 2019.
  20. Web site: Иран запустил второй за месяц спутник собственного производства. 2019-02-07. РИА Новости. ru. 2019-02-07.
  21. Web site: Satellite Imagery Suggests 2nd Iranian Space Launch Has Failed. Brumfiel . Geoff. 2019-02-06. NPR.org. en. 2019-02-07.
  22. Web site: 2021-04-20 . Mysterious Iran rocket blast draws Trump tweet, Tehran taunt . 2022-06-24 . AP NEWS . en.
  23. https://www.npr.org/2019/08/29/755406765/iranian-rocket-launch-ends-in-failure-images-show?t=1567107739452 Iranian Rocket Launch Ends In Failure, Imagery Shows
  24. https://www.space.com/iran-rocket-launch-failure-satellite-photo.html Iran rocket launch failure satellite photo