Iranian Space program | News and Discussions

[Persian Gulf]

Iran also announced a plan to launch a reusable SLV within 15 years (in Iranian year 1420) which is modelled on the SpaceX Falcon 9 via the redesigned Soroush-2 with 3.7m diameter and 70m height

the first launch of Sarir SLV is now scheduled to take place by March 2026 (1404)

 

[Persian Gulf]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Persian Gulf]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Immortals]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Another month and another set of promises. These guys just love talking to the media.

 

[Persian Gulf]

Another month and another set of promises. These guys just love talking to the media.

that is true, although this claim is very specific and short term, so it doesn't make sense to overpromise here. I expect 1-2 launch attempts before March 20th (probably within the next few weeks)

longer term, they have totally updated their Sarir/Soroush plans, bringing Sarir forward but pushing Soroush back with the planned redesign to a reusable SLV in line with Falcon 9. seems like a positive development, the issue, as always, will be the follow through in practice ...

 

[GWXP]

2026- Sarir - 1500kg to 200km and 1300kg to 500km orbit

2029- Sarir Heavy - 4000kg-5000kg to LEO

2029- Sourush-1 with 3m diameter+ boosters - 6000kg to LEO

2037- Sourush-2 with 3,7 diameter - 22.000kg to LEO

2042- Space X style reusable SLV based on Sourush-2







Note that an SLV that can put 1300kg to 500km orbit can deliver 2600kg to a distance of 12.000km.

So if we assume Sarir uses RD-250 and storable hypergolic propellants, it can be used as a heavy silo based ICBM with 2600kg payload to a distance of 12.000km (eight 300kg warheads)

 

[GWXP]

Angara A5 SLV uses liquid propellant and can put 24.500kg to LEO at a cost of 4000$ per 1kg

Indian PSLV uses solid fuel and can put 3800kg to LEO at a cost of 7900$ per 1kg

China's commercial SLV Kuaizhou 11 can put 1500kg to LEO at a cost of 10.000$ per 1kg, but absent profit it costs roughly 8000$ per 1kg

For estimating the price of Iranian SLVs we can take 4000$ per 1kg for liquid fuel SLVs and 8000$ per 1kg for solid-fuel SLVs

Iranian SLVs:

1) Qaem-100 with 80kg to LEO (0,64mln$ per launch)

2) 2025: Qaem-105 with 120kg-220kg to LEO (1mln$-1,7mln$ per launch)

3) 2026: Qaem-110 assuming 500kg to LEO (4mln$ per launch)

4) 2027: Qaem-120 assuming 1500kg to LEO (12mln$ per launch)

5) 2026: Sarir with 1500kg to LEO (6mln$ per launch)

6) 2029: Sarir Heavy with 4000kg-5000kg to LEO (16mln$-20mln$ per launch)

7) 2029: Sourush-1 with 6000kg to LEO (24mln$ per launch)

8) 2037: Sourush-2 with 22.000kg to LEO (88mln$ per launch)

9) 2042: Sourush-2 REUSABLE


Based on prices of commercial SLVs we can estimate the price of Iranian ballistic missiles.

If Qaem-105 weights 18tons and costs 1,7mln$, what is the cost of much smaller Raad-500 that weights 1,8tons?

If we assume propellant and casing is 50% of the cost of Qaem-105, then 18tons of propellant and casing costs 0,85mln$ and 1,8tons of Raad-500 costs 85.000$.

So if propellant and casing of Raad-500 costs 85.000$ plus roughly 250.000$ for avionics and guidance system - Raad-500 costs 335.000$ per unit

Khaybarshekan is like Raad-500 but with more propellant. It weights 6,3tons. So 300.000$ for propellant and casing of Khaybarshekan and 250.000$ for avionics - Khaybarshekan costs 550.000$ per unit

Assuming Qaem-110 can put 500kg to LEO, it can deliver 1000kg to a distance of 12.000km

(for example Russian Start -1M SLV with 500kg payload to LEO was based on Topol ICBM that could deliver 1000kg to 12.000km)

Qaem-110 costs 500kg*8000$= 4mln$

Qaem-105 costs 220kg*8000$=1,7mln$

Qaem-120 costs 1500kg*8000$=12mln$

Sarir - 1500kg*4000$=6mln$

So finally:

1) Raad-500: 335.000$

2) Khaybarshekan: 550.000$

3) Qaem-105 small ICBM: 1,7mln$

4) Qaem-110 ICBM: 4mln$

5) Qaem-120 heavy ICBM: 12mln$

6) Sarir silo based ICBM: 6mln$

 

[Immortals]

that is true, although this claim is very specific and short term, so it doesn't make sense to overpromise here. I expect 1-2 launch attempts before March 20th (probably within the next few weeks)

longer term, they have totally updated their Sarir/Soroush plans, bringing Sarir forward but pushing Soroush back with the planned redesign to a reusable SLV in line with Falcon 9. seems like a positive development, the issue, as always, will be the follow through in practice ...

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

This account is claiming a GTO launch with a ‘next gen’ Simorgh this week.

How is that possible when IRGC itself said no GEO for 4-5 years?

 

[Persian Gulf]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

This account is claiming a GTO launch with a ‘next gen’ Simorgh this week.

How is that possible when IRGC itself said no GEO for 4-5 years?

this is ISA not IRGC, ISA is ahead of IRGC for now

and maybe the successful last launch of Simorgh with the Saman space tug in December 2024 accelerated the timetable

and GTO can be easier version of GEO since the perigee is still LEO and only the apogee is GEO

 

[Persian Gulf]

2026- Sarir - 1500kg to 200km and 1300kg to 500km orbit

2029- Sarir Heavy - 4000kg-5000kg to LEO

2029- Sourush-1 with 3m diameter+ boosters - 6000kg to LEO

2037- Sourush-2 with 3,7 diameter - 22.000kg to LEO

2042- Space X style reusable SLV based on Sourush-2

View attachment 98482
View attachment 98481
View attachment 98483

View attachment 98484

Note that an SLV that can put 1300kg to 500km orbit can deliver 2600kg to a distance of 12.000km.

So if we assume Sarir uses RD-250 and storable hypergolic propellants, it can be used as a heavy silo based ICBM with 2600kg payload to a distance of 12.000km (eight 300kg warheads)

I thought the reusable Soroush replaced the Soroush-2

but it seems there is still the original Soroush-1 and Soroush-2 on the initial timeline and now they added a reusable SLV as a successor to Soroush-2 for 2040

Zoljanah appears rather pointless now they fixed Simorgh's problems and ISA wants to prioritise liquid fuel engines

also Sarir-A is supposed to deliver 150kg to 36,000km GEO while Soroush-1 delivers 1,000kg to 36,000km and Soroush-2 delivers 2,500kg to 36,000km

 

[Persian Gulf]

higher quality version of the new SLV poster

if they can get optimised Simorgh and Sarir-A to work, the issue will become satellite rather than SLV

recent successes with Simorgh (two in a row) give rise to optimism as the Sarir is only an iterative upgrade (using basically same first stage as Simorgh-2).

after a great start, IRGC-ASF space program is now behind ISA program in pure payload capability (but ahead in terms of advanced tech)

Soroush-1 was weirdly not shown but may use the RD-250 engine that Iran and North Korea have been working on since at least 2016 (and which North Korea has successfully copied/used in several ICBMs)

Soroush-2 is supposed to use the Bahman cryogenic engine under development

by March 2026 (13 months) we should see launches of Qaem-105A, Simorgh-2, and Sarir-A

 

[GWXP]

If Iran designs Falcon 9 like SLV in 2042, next stage is Falcon Heavy like SLV with three cores- center core and two side boosters.

Such modular approach will allow Iran quickly and cheaply build a reusable SLV with 54-64tons of payload to LEO by 2050.

 

[Khorasan Black Flags]

Video in Persian:

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Persian Gulf]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Tijani]

If Iran designs Falcon 9 like SLV in 2042, next stage is Falcon Heavy like SLV with three cores- center core and two side boosters.

Such modular approach will allow Iran quickly and cheaply build a reusable SLV with 54-64tons of payload to LEO by 2050.
View attachment 98602

I'm really not liking the timeline! I know it's not easy, it's rocket science after all, but some of us might not be around by 2050! I pray I'll be here to witness the first Iranian in space and a proper space walk!