Engineering:Qaem 100
 Qaem 100 launching Soraya, 20 January 2024. | |
| Function | Small-lift space launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Size | |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO 500 km | 80 kg |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Qaem |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Shahroud space center |
| Total launches | 3 (1 suborbital) |
| Successes | 2 (1 suborbital) |
| Failures | 1 |
| First flight | 5 November 2022 |
| Last flight | 20 January 2024 |
| First stage | |
| Engines | Rafe motor |
| Thrust | 68,000 kilograms-force (670,000 N; 150,000 lbf) |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 1 m |
| Engines | Salman motor |
| Burn time | 60 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Diameter | 1 m |
| Engines | Unnamed IRGC motor |
| Fuel | Solid |
Qaem 100 (also Ghaem 100, Persian: قائم ۱۰۰, from a word meaning "upright")[1] is an Iranian expendable, small-lift, space launch vehicle developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It was unveiled on 5 November 2022 and is the first rocket of the Qaem family. After a successful suborbital test flight in 2022, the rocket performed its orbital maiden flight in 2023 carrying the Nahid telecommunication satellite but failed to put it in orbit.[2][3] In the next launch in 2024, it succeeded in putting the Soraya satellite into 750km orbit, breaking Iran's previous altitude record.[4]
Development history
In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, the Qased.[5] Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100.[6] Its first suborbital test flight has been successfully carried out on 5 November 2022.[7][3] The IRGC then announced Qaem 100 will "soon" be used to launch the Nahid satellite manufactured by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Iran.[3] The Qaem 100 is planned to be followed by other Qaem rockets including the Qaem 105, Qaem 110 and Qaem 120, which will ultimately allow Iran to put satellites into the 36,000 km GEO orbit.[6]
Design
Qaem 100 is the first three-stage solid-fueled rocket manufactured by Iran.[8] It will be able to put a satellite weighing 80 kg (180 lb) into a 500 kilometres (310 miles) LEO.[9][3] This is twice the payload that the Qased rocket can lift while the two rockets weigh the same.[6]
The first stage is the Rafe motor that successfully passed its static ground test in January 2022.[3][10] Rafe is able to produce 68 tonnes-force (670 kN; 150,000 lbf) of thrust. It uses gimballed thrust vector control (TVC) for steering and has a wound carbon-fiber composite casing reducing weight compared to traditional casing.[10]
Launch history
| Flight No. | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 November 2022 | Shahroud | N/A | Suborbital | Success | Test flight[3] |
| 2 | 4 March 2023 | Shahroud | Nahid-1 | LEO | Failure | Maiden orbital flight[2][11] |
| 3 | 20 January 2024 | Shahroud | Soraya | LEO | Success | First successfull orbital flight. Satellite placed into 750 km orbit breaking Iran's previous record.[12][13] |
See also
- IRGC Aerospace Force
- Iranian Space Agency
- Science and technology in Iran
Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles
- Safir (rocket)
- Simorgh (rocket)
- Qased (rocket)
- Zuljanah (rocket)
References
- ↑ Rastrow, A. A. (December 21, 2002). Rahnama Turkish-English-Persian Dictionary. Alhoda UK. ISBN 9789646054707. https://books.google.com/books?id=-M8yb1agN-0C&dq=%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85%E2%80%8C+upright+persian&pg=PA108.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Identical letters dated 28 April 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council". https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4010031/files/S_2023_302-EN.pdf?ln=en.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "پرتاب موفقیت‌آمیز زیرمداری ماهواره‌بر قائم 100- اخبار نظامی | دفاعی | امنیتی – اخبار سیاسی تسنیم | Tasnim" (in fa). https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1401/08/14/2799432/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%A2%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2-%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-100.
- ↑ "Iran launches Sorayya satellite, sets 'new record'". https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-launches-sorayya-satellite-sets-new-record/3114333.
- ↑ Bizaer, Maysam. "Iran satellite launch 'sends a message' on failed US pressure" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/28/iran-satellite-launch-sends-a-message-on-failed-us-pressure.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "سردار جعفرآبادی: "قائم 100" اولین پله از نقشه راه سپاه در توسعه سری ماهواره‌برهای قائم است" (in fa). https://www.fardanews.com/بخش-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-73/1184229-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%BE%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%86%D9%82%D8%B4%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA.
- ↑ "Iran test launches new satellite-carrying rocket" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/5/iran-test-launches-new-satellite-carrying-rocket.
- ↑ "Launch of Qaem satellite-carrying rocket made foes angry, delirious: diplomat" (in en). 7 November 2022. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/478449/Launch-of-Qaem-satellite-carrying-rocket-made-foes-angry-delirious.
- ↑ "Iran Revolutionary Guard launches satellite-carrying rocket" (in en-US). https://news.yahoo.com/iran-revolutionary-guard-launches-satellite-131940781.html.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "سپاه با "رافع" به باشگاه سازندگان ماهواره‌بر سوخت جامد پیوست/ نقش تدبیر رهبر انقلاب درباره "الیاف کربن" در ارتقاء صنعت فضایی کشور +عکس و فیلم" (in fa). 16 January 2022. https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1326352/سپاه-با-رافع-به-باشگاه-سازندگان-ماهواره-بر-سوخت-جامد-پیوست.
- ↑ "Qaim-100 satellite carrier has failed.". https://twitter.com/projectmeshkat/status/1696221535332184088.
- ↑ "Iran successfully launches Sorayya satellite into orbit: Report". 2024-01-20. https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/01/20/Iran-says-it-conducted-a-satellite-launch.
- ↑ "خبرگزاری فارس - رکورد پرتاب فضایی ایران شکسته شد؛ پرتاب «ثریا» به ارتفاع 750 کیلومتری زمین برای اولین بار". 2024-01-20. https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14021030000391/%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%81%D8%B6%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%AB%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B9-50-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%88%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B2%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86.
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