Soraya (satellite)
Iranian satellite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Soraya (Persian: ثریا, IPA: [soɹæj.jɒ́ː]), also spelled Sorayya, is an Iranian remote sensing satellite of the SRI series of research satellites built by the Iranian Space Research Center and sent into a 750 km Low Earth orbit on 20 January 2024 by an Iranian Qaem 100 rocket.[1][2]
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | Iranian Space Agency Iranian Space Research Center |
| COSPAR ID | 2024-015A |
| SATCAT no. | 58817 |
| Mission duration | 2 years, 4 months, 6 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Iranian Space Research Center |
| Launch mass | 50 kg |
| Power | Solar |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 January 2024 06:28:34 UTC |
| Rocket | Qaem 100 |
| Launch site | Shahroud Space Center |
| Contractor | IRGC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Periapsis altitude | 744 km |
| Apoapsis altitude | 760 km |
| Inclination | 64.5° |
The Iranian Minister of Communications announced that Soraya was placed into orbit by Qaem 100 satellite carrier in 11 minutes.[3][4] On the next day, he reported the signals and telemetry data received on the night of 20 January showed the satellite was working properly.[5]
Reports indicate that several countries, including France, Britain, and Germany, expressed concern after Iran launched the Soraya satellite due to Iran's possible acquisition of long-range ballistic technology. The United States also considered Iran to be in violation of a UN Security Council resolution.[6][7][8]
