| Semnan Space Center | |
| Spaceport: | Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal |
| Established: | 1 February 2004 |
| Owner: | Iranian Space Agency |
| Headquarters: | Semnan, Semnan Province |
| Administrator: | Iranian Space Agency |
| Coordinates: | 35.2346°N 53.9221°W |
| Pushpin Map: | Iran |
Semnan Space Center (Persian:Persian: مرکز فضایی سمنان) is the primary Iranian spaceport, located 50 km southeast of the city of Semnan in the north of the country.
Media attention on the space center began when Iranian authorities announced their intent to launch an artificial satellite within weeks on 16 August 2008.[1] On 17 August 2008, Iran proceeded, as preannounced, with the second test launch of a three stage Safir SLV from a site 35.2347°N 53.9208°W south of Semnan in the northern part of the Dasht-e-Kavir desert. Reza Taghizadeh, head of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, told state television "The Safir (Ambassador) satellite carrier was launched today and for the first time we successfully launched a dummy satellite into orbit".[2] As reported in late 2009 and early 2010, a new, larger launch pad was under construction at 35.2583°N 53.9547°W.[3] [4]
The Circular Launch Platform is the oldest launch pad and also recognizable by the light blue background with the original logo of the Iran Space Agency (ISA).The platform has a simplified character and consists of a leveled terrain with a circular asphalted section of a diameter of 65 m, at the center of which is a service tower.
See main article: Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal.
The Main Launch Platform (Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal) is located at the east of the complex on a specially enclosed octagonal area measuring 900 x 660 m and covering an area of 51.4 ha, representing the largest single element of the new space center. The units are accessed by a road from the northwest, which is within the perimeter of the three rays and forms two main inner zones – almost completely built lower and newly initiated upper (state of 2015). The lower zone consists of spacious launching platforms with towers and four larger compartments for installation and storage.
| Date | Carrier rocket | Payload | Pad | Outcome | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2, 2006 | Kavoshgar-1 (A) | No Payload | mobile | Atmospheric flight (v = 10 km) [5] | ||
| February 25, 2007 | Kavoshgar-1 | Kavosh | mobile | First Mesosphere flight [6] | ||
| February 4, 2008 | Kavoshgar-1 | No Payload | mobile | First flight above Kármán line | ||
| August 16, 2008 | Safir-1 | DemoSat | circular | First Iranian object in Orbit[7] | ||
| November 26, 2008 | Kavoshgar-2 (B) | Empty bio capsule | mobile | Atmospheric flight (v = 40 km) | ||
| February 2, 2009 | Safir-1 | Omid | circular | First operational Iranian Satellite | ||
| February 3, 2010 | Kavoshgar-3 (B) | Poikilotherm | mobile | Atmospheric flight (v = 55 km) | ||
| March 15, 2011 | Kavoshgar-4 (C) | Empty bio capsule | mobile | Suborbital flight (v = 135 km) | ||
| June 15, 2011 | Safir-1A | Rasad 1 | circular | Operating satellite | ||
| September 15, 2011 | Kavoshgar-5 (C) | bio capsule | mobile | Suborbital flight (v = 120 km) | ||
| February 3, 2012 | Safir-1B | Navid | circular | Operating satellite | ||
| May 23, 2012 | Kavoshgar-6 (C) | DemoSat | mobile | [8] | Suborbital flight (v = 120 km) | |
| January 28, 2013 | Kavoshgar-7 (C) | Pishgam | mobile | Suborbital flight (v = 120 km) | ||
| December 14, 2013 | Kavoshgar-8 (D) | Fargam | circular | Suborbital flight (v = 120 km) | ||
| February 2, 2015 | Safir-1B | Fajr | circular | Satellite orbited for 24 days prior to re-entry[9] | ||
| April 19, 2016 | Simorgh | No Payload | Main | Suborbital flight [10] | ||
| July 27, 2017 | Simorgh | No Payload | Main | [11] | Test flight; failure shortly after liftoff[12] | |
| January 15, 2019 | Simorgh | AUTSAT ("Project Payam") [13] | Main | Third stage failed [14] | ||
| February 5, 2019 | Safir | Doosti | Main | Launch failure | ||
| February 9, 2020 | Simorgh | Zafar-1 | Main | Satellite fails to reach orbit [15] | ||
| 31 January or 1 February 2021 | Zuljanah | Test payload | circular | Successful first test flight of Zuljanah. Sub-orbital. Apogee 500 km. | ||
| June 12, 2021 | Simorgh | Unknown payload | Main | Failed to reach orbit.[16] | ||
| December 30, 2021 | Simorgh | 3 unknown payloads | Main | Iranian state media reported a successful flight, but no objects were detected in orbit following this launch. Reported apogee: 470 km (290 mi).[17] | ||
| June 26, 2022 | Zuljanah | circular | Successful second test flight of Zuljanah. Sub-orbital.[18] [19] | |||
| December 6, 2023 | Salman | Bio-capsule | circular | Successful maiden flight of Salman. Sub-orbital (v = 130 km).[20] | ||
| January 28, 2024 | Simorgh | 3 satellites | Main | First successful orbital flight of Simorgh. Carried the Hatef-1, Keyhan-2 and Mahda satellites.[21] |