Russia launched a Soyuz-2.1 rocket early Tuesday, carrying 55 satellites, including two Iranian-built devices, into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East at 02:18 Moscow time (2318 GMT Monday), marking a new milestone for Russia’s space endeavors.
Monitoring Earth’s Ionosphere
The payload included two Ionosfera-M satellites, each weighing 430 kg and designed to study the ionosphere — the region where Earth’s atmosphere meets space. Stretching 50 to 400 miles above the Earth, the ionosphere plays a crucial role in radio communication and space weather monitoring. These satellites will operate at an altitude of 820 km, becoming part of a planned four-satellite system. The next two Ionosfera-M devices are set for launch in 2025.
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Record-Breaking Deployment
Roscosmos announced that this mission marked the highest number of Russian satellites deployed in a single launch. Among the 55 satellites, 51 were Russian, along with the first Russian-Chinese student satellite, Druzhba ATURK, and a Russian-Zimbabwean satellite.
Iran’s Growing Space Ambitions
The launch also included two privately built Iranian satellites: the Kowsar, a high-resolution imaging device, and the Hodhod, a small communications satellite. Developed by Iran’s Omid Faza Company, these satellites aim to support environmental monitoring and enhance communication in remote areas. Tehran highlighted the achievement as the first instance of Russian assistance in launching privately developed Iranian satellites, underscoring its growing space capabilities.
Strengthening Strategic Ties
The collaboration reflects the deepening partnership between Russia and Iran amidst geopolitical pressures. Both countries have bolstered economic, political, and military ties in light of Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine and the escalating conflict in the Middle East. This alignment has drawn significant attention and concern from Western nations.
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Tuesday’s launch builds on previous Russia-Iran cooperation. In February, Russia launched an Iranian research satellite tasked with mapping Iran’s topography. This steady progress highlights both nations’ ambitions to expand their footprint in space exploration and technology.