Iran's first space launch vehicle Safir IRILV
 
Norbert Brügge, Germany

Update: 05.02.2010

 



 TEHRAN, 2008, Feb. 4  -- Iran launched probably their first space launch vehicle "Safir IRILV" and revealed the Iranian launch site nearby Semnan to be used for launching satellites into LEO. The launch site involves an underground control station and launch pad to be used to fire an Iranian satellite named "Omid" into space. The satellite "Omid" built by Iranian scholars is the first domestically-made satellite to be set at a low earth orbit.
The Iranian press presents first photos of the new SLV and their propulsion. The named Safir IRILV (Islamic Republic of Iran Launch Vehicle) is standing on the Space Industries Group Center  in Tehran.
The current launch was not shown. It was shown however the launch site with a launch-tower in the desert. In the meantime there are pictures of the rocket from the transport to the launch site.
The confusion is great in the world-press because the messages and pictures from the Iran are contradictory to the launch. The presented videos are probably old. They show the launch of the sounding rocket Kavoshgar from February 2007. The Kavoshgar is based on Shahab-3M missile.
The shown launch pad is the launch pad for the Safir IRILV, which was under construction in 2007 at the same location.
A sequence at the end of a Iranian launch-video a striking structure shows in the sky. It looks like a disaster. This sequence does not belong to the launch from the Kavoshgar sounding rocket. Probable is that an extra sequence from the current failure of the Safir IRILV. It had with high probability the satellite Omid on board. The probability is high, that Iran on the occasion of the anniversary of the revolution had the ambition, to transport a satellite in an orbit. That has failed evidently.
The surprise is great. The two-stage rocket Safir IRILV is composed of a first stage Ghadr-II  (similar Nodong++) and a shorter second stage of equal diameter of 1.25 m. The vehicle has a length of approximately 22.4 m.
A Scud missile is not used as second stage. It is however a liquid propellant stage, which is propelled by two small engines. They are two single engines with nozzle extension.
The engines are similar to a small Soviet engine. The partially application of the Soviet R-27 SLBM technology is recognizable. The turbopump and their arrangement is similar to the Soviet R-27 turbopump.

TEHRAN, 2008, Aug. 16 -- Iran says, it successfully launched its two-stage rocket Safir IRILV to transport a dummy of the Omid satellite in orbit. The test-satellite is named Safir-e-Omid.
Probable this was the next however not successful attempt to transport the satellite "Omid" in the orbit. Up to now no data of the orbit were made known. However there were shown new details of the rocket and from the lift-off itself.

TEHRAN, 2009, Feb. 3  -- Iran has sent its first home-built satellite into orbit, Iran's English-language satellite news channel Press TV reported. The Omid lightweight telecommunications satellite was sent into space by the Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir IRILV, the report said. Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid will transmit information to and from earth while orbiting the planet 15 times an hour, Press TV said. The satellite is also equipped with remote sensing, satellite telemetry and geographic information system technology, as well as remote and ground station data processing.
The first Iranian satellite was launched into orbit on a southeastern trajectory. Two objects are in orbits of 245 - 378 km; 55.51 deg and 245 - 439 km; 55.6 deg. One is presumably the Omid payload and the other the Safir rocket final stage, but it's not clear yet which is which. The Iranian News Agency calls the launch vehicle Safir-2. Pictures of the launch show "Safir - Omid (2) IRILV" painted on the side of the rocket. However is it probably the third launch. The first vehicle was launched under another logo.
   The launch 2008, Feb. 4


First Safir IRILV on the Space Industries Group center  in Tehran


      


A sequence at the end of a Iranian launch-video a striking structure shows in the sky. It looks like a disaster. This sequence does not belong to the launch from the Kavoshgar sounding rocket.
Probable is that an extra sequence from the current failure of the Safir IRILV.  It had with high probability the satellite Omid on board. The probability is high, that Iran on the occasion of the anniversary of the revolution had the ambition, to transport a satellite in an orbit. That has failed evidently.



The first failed Safir launcher (2008, Feb. 4)



Is that the failure of the first Safir launch ?    >>>>>>>>>> Video
 
  The launch 2008, Aug. 16



Launch video  *   Launch video


Launch pad before the completion



Semnan space launch site: 35°14' 04"N / 53° 55' 20"E



Pre-launch


             
Safir IRILV at the launch-tower
 

  The launch 2009, Feb. 3


       
 


         
Vehicle on launch pad

Launch vehicle





Upper stage with fairing



 



Safir first stage rear



Safir rocket is ready




Lower part of the first stage tank



First stage upper part


              
Nose-cone
 

Propulsion


   


Combustion chamber injector plate



Comparison between Nodong and Scud engine


In FARSI: FIRST STAGE SAFIR ENGINE


Enclosure of the second stage turbopump

 
Second stage engine with nozzle extension


The turbopump


  


in FARSI: The SECOND STAGE SAFIR ENGINE

Rear of second stage: Engines with their nozzle extension


Possible technical data

 

Stage

Engine

Thrust s.l.

Isp s.l.

Thrust vac

Isp vac

 Propellant

Burn time

Flow rate

Total Imp

-

-

kN

N*s/kg

kN

N*s/kg

  

tons

s

t/s

MN*s

1

  Nodong (1)* 283,8 2417 313,8 2672 UDMH/AK-27S 15,259 130 0,1174 40,8
2  n.n (2)     73,5 2844 UDMH/AK-27S 3,876 150 0,0258 11,0

* Isayev n.n. (= YF-3/Scud-D/Nodong engine)



Iran's next satellite Ya Mahdi ?

 
Key organizations