TEHRAN -- Iran on Sunday tested its domestically-developed hybrid-propellant satellite carrier rocket called Zuljanah for “predetermined research purposes” for the second time.
Ahmad Husseini, a spokesman for Iran’s Defense Ministry, explained that the three-phased Zuljanah is competitive with the world’s top satellite carriers in technical aspects, noting that it has two solid propulsion phases and a single liquid propulsion phase.
The official noted added that the third development phase of the satellite carrier has started.
The satellite carrier, he said, would gather information in low-earth orbit and would be critical to promote Iran’s space industry.
Earlier this month, Husseini said the performance of different stages of Zuljanah is examined and evaluated during each research launch.
Following the incorporation of required technology and successful operation, the Zuljanah satellite carrier will be capable of putting “payloads weighing up to 220 kilograms into the orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers,” he added.
Iran’s Defense Ministry launched the Zuljanah satellite carrier into space for the first time in February 2021.
Zuljanah is named after the horse of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him). The satellite carrier is 25.5 meters long and weighs about 52 tonnes. It utilizes a 1.5-meter diameter solid fuel engine with 74 tonnes of thrust.