Iran Receives First Telemetry Data from Newly-Launched Satellite
The Iranian Ministry of Information and Communications Technology announced the launch of the "Khayyam" satellite into orbit as a success, and confirmed that first telemetry data from the satellite have been received at Iran's ground stations.
The high-resolution Iranian satellite was successfully launched into space from a base in Kazakhstan on board a Russian rocket on Tuesday. The satellite is placed in an orbit of 500 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and will send high-resolution images four times a day.
“The first telemetry data from ‘Khayyam’ satellite was received at the Iranian Space Agency’s (ISA) Mahdasht space base,” the ministry of communications said.
Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Issa Zarepour, who traveled to Kazakhstan, stated that the country will continue efforts to develop domestic capabilities in manufacturing and launching satellites.
“Iran Space Agency, while developing internal capabilities in the field of building and launching satellites needed by the country and growing the relevant ground stations, continues to meet the country’s current needs in the area of providing satellite data through advanced scientific and technological cooperation with leading countries in the world’s space industry,” he added.
“In addition to meeting the needs of Iran, it will accelerate the localization of space technology in the country by transferring knowledge and experience,” he added.
“Launching the ‘Khayyam’ satellite into orbit is the beginning of Iran-Russia’s strategic cooperation in the space field,” Zarepour concluded.
Imagery from the “Khayyam” satellite will be used to monitor Iran’s borders and improve the country’s capabilities in management and planning in the fields of agriculture, natural resources, environment, mining, and natural disasters.
Iran has taken giant strides in the field of science of technology in recent years, despite US sanctions.
In early June, the Iranian Space Agency announced that work was underway to prepare seven more satellites for launch into the orbit.
In late June, Iran tested its domestically-developed hybrid-propellant satellite carrier rocket called Zuljanah for “predetermined research purposes” for the second time. The Iran’s Defense Ministry launched the Zuljanah satellite carrier into space for the first time in February 2021.
Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi has also stressed continued efforts to further advance space technology.
“The obtainment of this technology is among the manifestations of national might, which was made possible with the efforts of the Armed Forces – specially the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the Communications Ministry – and which must continue with greater force,” he noted in mid-March.
