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Minister: Iran, Russia to Launch Production Line of Khayyam Satellite

Iranian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Issa Zarepour hailed the country’s good progress in the space technology, and underlined Tehran and Moscow's determination to build new versions of the newly-launched "Khayyam" satellite.

Zarepour told reporters on Wednesday that plans are underway to launch a joint production line between Iran and Russia to build three updates of the remote sensing satellite with pinpoint accuracy.

The high-resolution Iranian satellite was successfully launched into space from a base in Kazakhstan on board a Russian rocket on Tuesday. The Iranian Ministry of Information and Communications Technology confirmed that first telemetry data from the satellite was received at Iran’s ground stations.

Minister noted that the signals have been received “three or four times” at Iran’s Mahdasht station near Tehran.

He also added Iran will test a new satellite carrier within weeks that can place satellites weighing less than 100 kilograms in orbit.

Meanwhile, Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hassan Salarieh told a press conference, “The remote sensing ‘Khayyam’ satellite can fulfill many of the country’s needs that require high-precision data.”

“Iran is planning on domestically designing and manufacturing satellites with the accuracy of the ‘Khayyam’ satellite within the next few years,” he said on Wednesday.

“Since the satellite industry is one of the most important industries, cooperation with the world’s leading countries and companies regarding the space industry will continue,” he continued.

Also on Wednesday, Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi said the new achievements in the aerospace industries will be unveiled in the future.

“In the future, the country will witness new space achievements,” he noted at the cabinet session in Tehran.

Rayeesi described the successful launch of the “Khayyam” satellite into orbit as source of pride and power.

Iranian president underscored the government’s serious determination to advance space technology.

Meantime, the ISA confirmed the proper functioning of the entire systems of the “Khayyam” satellite. 

All the systems in the “Khayyam” satellite are functioning properly, according to the initial assessments of technicians at the station. After analyzing the telemetric data received from the satellite it was made clear that all its systems are functioning exactly as programmed and that the satellite’s situation is on its ideal orbit.

The first signals from the “Khayyam” satellite were received about 90 minutes after it was launched at Iran’s Mahdasht Space Station that is in charge of controlling the satellite.

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 ISA 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.

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