Iran Launches Satellite into Orbit in Cooperation with Russia
Iran Launches Satellite into Orbit in Cooperation with Russia
The Iranian Space Agency announced on Friday, July 25, 2025, the successful launch of the “Nahid-2” satellite into low Earth orbit. The joint mission with Russia was carried out from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in eastern Russia using a Soyuz rocket.
Iran launches Nahid-2 Satellite into space https://t.co/eE5HojjgGM pic.twitter.com/dIjyhVVBfK
— IRNA News Agency (@IrnaEnglish) July 25, 2025
“Nahid-2” is a communications satellite developed entirely in Iran by the Space Research Center in collaboration with domestic technology firms. Weighing approximately 110 kilograms, the satellite was placed in an orbit at an altitude of around 500 kilometers. It is expected to operate for about five years, with the ability to adjust its orbit using an indigenously designed propulsion system.
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Hassan Salarieh, head of the Iranian Space Agency, described the launch as “an important step toward strengthening national space capabilities,” adding that the satellite “is the result of domestic expertise and reflects technological progress despite external challenges.”
According to the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, the “Nahid-2” satellite is equipped with locally produced components, including lithium-ion batteries and thermal systems designed for space environments. The ministry also confirmed that ground stations successfully received the satellite’s initial signals following the launch, indicating that it had stabilized in its intended orbit.
This launch is part of Iran’s broader initiative to expand its space infrastructure, which includes plans to deploy additional communications satellites into higher orbits in the coming years. It also highlights continued technical cooperation between Tehran and Moscow under joint agreements in the fields of space, energy, and telecommunications.
