Iran strengthens space programme with Saman-1 orbital manoeuvre breakthrough

Iran has reached a milestone in its space programme with the successful deployment and testing of the Saman-1 orbital transfer block, a key innovation designed to manoeuvre satellites between different orbits, as reported by Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

The Saman-1 block was launched aboard the Simorgh rocket, Iran's primary space launch vehicle, during its eighth mission. It successfully entered an elliptical orbit with an apogee of approximately 410 kilometres and a perigee of 300 kilometres.

The orbital transfer block underwent extensive testing, including evaluations of its communication systems, attitude control capabilities, and other critical subsystems. These tests ensured the block could maintain its orientation and perform precise manoeuvres in space.

Thermal balance manoeuvres for temperature regulation were successfully executed, and the onboard computers operated as intended. The soft separation of a dummy satellite and a mass model was captured by onboard cameras, confirming the precision of the release mechanism in the elliptical orbit.

Additionally, the activation chain for the main engine was tested multiple times, with the solid-fuel thrusters delivering the dynamic balance required for ignition, the source claims.

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