safir (rocket)

{{infobox rocket

|image =Safir navid 1.jpg

|imsize =

|caption = Safir's 2012 launch from Semnan Space Center with Navid satellite as its payload

|name = Safir

|function = LEO launch vehicle

|manufacturer = Iranian Space Agency

|country-origin = Iran

|height = 22 m (72ft)

|diameter = 1.25 m (4.10ft)

|mass = 26,000 kg

|stages = 2

|capacities =

{{Infobox rocket/Payload

|location = LEO

|kilos = {{convert|50|kg}}}}

|status = Retired

|sites = Semnan Space Center

|launches = 7 (1 unconfirmed)
(+2 test flights)

|success = 4

|fail = 3 (1 unconfirmed)

|first = 17 August 2008

|last = 5 February 2019

|stagedata =

{{Infobox Rocket/Stage

|type = stage

|stageno = First

|engines = 1 × modified Shahab-3 engine

|thrust = {{cvt|363|kN}}

|burntime =

|SI =

|fuel = {{N2O4}} / UDMH{{cn|date=December 2024}}

|length =

|diameter =

}}

{{Infobox Rocket/Stage

|type = stage

|stageno = Second

|engines = 2 × LRE-4 (R-27 Zyb vernier engines)

|thrust = {{cvt|35|kN}}

|SI =

|burntime =

|fuel = {{N2O4}} / UDMH

|length =

|diameter =

}}

The Safir ({{langx|fa|سفیر}}, meaning "ambassador") was the first Iranian expendable launch vehicle able to place a satellite in orbit.{{Cite news |editor-last=Liffey |editor-first=Kevin |last1=Hafezi |first1=Parisa |date=17 August 2008 |title=Iran says it has put first dummy satellite in orbit |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSHAF75296620080817/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530153217/https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSHAF75296620080817 |archive-date=30 May 2023 |access-date=17 August 2008 |publisher=Reuters }} The first successful orbital launch using the Safir launch system took place on 2 February 2009 when a Safir carrier rocket placed the Omid satellite into an orbit with a {{convert |245.2|km|adj=on|abbr=on}} apogee.{{Cite web |title=OMID Spacecraft - Trajectory Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2009-004A |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209215607/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2009-004A |archive-date=9 December 2023 |website=NSSDCA Master Catalog |publisher=NASA |id=2009-004A }}{{cite web|url=http://www.mda.mil/system/threat.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105194919/http://www.mda.mil/system/threat.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-11-05|title=The Threat|publisher=US Missile Defense Agency}} This made Iran the ninth nation capable of producing and launching a satellite.{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|date=2 February 2009|title=Iran Launches Omid Satellite Into Orbit|url=https://www.space.com/5432-iran-launches-omid-satellite-orbit.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Space.com|language=en}}

The Simorgh is a larger orbital launcher based on Safir technology which has since replaced the Safir, and is sometimes called the Safir-2.

Design and specifications

The Safir measures 1.25 meters in diameter, 22 meters in height and has a launching mass of 26 tons. The rocket consists of two stages; The first stage utilizes an upgraded Nodong/Shahab-3 type engine which burns a hypergolic combination of UDMH as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidant, producing 37 tons (363 kN; 82,500 lbf) of thrust. The second stage utilizes a pair of smaller gimballed engines called LRE-4, fed by a common turbopump (originally the Vernier engines of the R-27 Zyb Soviet SLBM{{Cite web|title=Soviet R-27 SLBM and the reuse of its steering engines by North Korea and Iran|url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets/Specials/R-27/index.htm|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.b14643.de}}) burning the same fuel combination as the first stage and producing 3.5 tons (35 kN; 7700 lbf) of thrust. This configuration gives Safir the ability to inject a payload with a maximum weight of 50 kilograms into low Earth orbit.{{Cite web |title=Safir-1A/B IRILV |url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Safir-1B-IRILV/Description/Frame.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810192631/http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets_1/Rest_World/Safir-1B-IRILV/Description/Frame.htm |archive-date=2024-08-10 |access-date=2021-04-05 |website=www.b14643.de}}

Variants

=Kavoshgar-1=

Kavoshgar-1 ({{langx|fa|کاوشگر ۱}}, "Explorer-1") was Safir's precursor used as a sounding rocket, a sub-orbital flight was conducted on 4 February 2008, as announced by state-run television. A launch on 25 February 2007 may also have been of the same type. The flight carried instruments to measure the higher atmosphere. The rocket launched on 4 February 2008 was a liquid-propellant-driven rocket, a derivative of the Shahab-3, that reached an altitude of 200–250 km in space, and successfully returned science data according to the Iranian News Agency.{{Cite web|last=ایران|first=پایگاه اطلاع رسانی شبکه خبر صدا و سیمای جمهوری اسلامی|date=2015-04-06|title=نگاهی به توانمندی ایران در بخش موشک های ماهواره‌ بر و نظامی|url=http://www.irinn.ir/fa/news/86472|access-date=2021-04-05|publisher=Islamic Republic of Iran News Network|language=fa}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news|year=2008|title=Iran's Research Rocket Beams Back Science Data|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Space.com|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap-080217-iran-rocket-science.html|access-date=2009-01-11}}

On 19 February 2008, Iran offered new information about the rocket and announced that Kavoshgar-1 used a two staged rocket. The first stage separated after 100 seconds and returned to earth with the help of a parachute. The second stage continued its ascent to an altitude of 200 kilometers.{{cite web|title=The Launch of the Iranian Kavoshgar Rocket|date=March 5, 2008|author=Yiftah Shapir|url=https://www.inss.org.il/publication/the-launch-of-the-iranian-kavoshgar-rocket/|publisher=The Institute for National Security Studies|access-date=March 19, 2023}}

=Safir-1A=

The Safir-1A is the first upgraded variant of the original Safir, these upgrades include, refinement of the second stage retro-rockets, stage separation systems, various sensors and telemetry systems, navigation and control systems, as well as increasing maximum orbit height from 250 to 275 kilometers.{{Cite web |date=1 February 2021 |title="Zoljanah" ozv-e jadid-e eskadrān-e mahvāre-barhā-ye Irāni shod |script-title=fa:"ذوالجناح" عضو جدید اسکادران ماهواره‌برهای ایرانی شد |trans-title="Zoljanah" Became the New Member of the Iranian Satellite Carrier Squadron |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/99111409999/ذوالجناح-عضو-جدید-اسکادران-ماهواره-برهای-ایرانی-شد |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201232825/https://www.isna.ir/news/99111409999/ذوالجناح-عضو-جدید-اسکادران-ماهواره-برهای-ایرانی-شد |archive-date=1 February 2021 |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=ایسنا |publisher=Iranian Students' News Agency |language=fa }}{{Cite web |date=18 August 2013 |title=Khānevāde-ye mahvāre-barhā-ye 'Safir' rā behtar beshenāsid |script-title=fa:خانواده ماهواره‌برهای 'سفیر' را بهتر بشناسید |trans-title=Get to Know the 'Safir' Satellite Carrier Family Better |url=https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/241834/خانواده-ماهواره-برهای-سفیر-را-بهتر-بشناسید |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421193124/https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/241834/خانواده-ماهواره-برهای-سفیر-را-بهتر-بشناسید |archive-date=21 April 2024 |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=مشرق نیوز |language=fa }}

=Safir-1B=

The Safir-1B is a further upgrade of the Safir-1A design, the first-stage engine has been upgraded and refined, resulting in an increase in thrust from 32 to 37 tons (363 kN; 82,500 lbf), the second stage engine has been upgraded with thrust vector control capability and has been made more efficient. These upgrades have increased payload capability to 50 kilograms, and have increased maximum orbit height to 400 kilometers.

Retirement

During the unveiling ceremony of the Zuljanah satellite launch vehicle on the state TV, Seyed Ahmad Husseini, the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense's Aerospace Organization stated that the Safir launch vehicle is in a state of retirement and no further launches are planned with this vehicle.{{Cite web |date=29 January 2020 |title=Negāhi be mahvāre-barhā-ye Irāni (Safir va Simorgh) |script-title=fa:نگاهی به ماهواره برهای ایرانی (سفیر و سیمرغ ) |trans-title=A Look at Iranian Satellite Carriers (Safir and Simorgh) |url=https://astronomers.ir/4243/safirsimorgh-rocket/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421194635/http://www.astronomers.ir/4243/safirsimorgh-rocket/ |archive-date=21 April 2024 |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=گروه آموزشی زانکو |language=fa-IR }}{{Cite web|date=2020-01-28|title="سفیر" رسما بازنشسته شد تا "سیمرغ" مهیای سفر فضایی شود/ طلسم استفاده ماهواره‌بر ایرانی از سوخت جامد با سریر و سروش می‌شکند؟ +عکس|url=https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1036082/سفیر-رسما-بازنشسته-شد-تا-سیمرغ-مهیای-سفر-فضایی-شود-طلسم|access-date=2021-04-05|website=مشرق نیوز|language=fa}}{{Cite web |title=Sokhanguy-e goruh-e fazāyi-ye vezārat-e defā: mahvāre-barhā-ye "Sarir" va "Sorush" ronamāyi mishavand / be donbāl-e mahvāre-bar-e sukhte jāmed hastim - akhbār-e nezāmi {{!}} Def - akhbār-e siāsi Tasnim |script-title=fa:سخنگوی گروه فضایی وزارت دفاع: ماهواره‌برهای "سریر" و "سروش" رونمایی می‌شوند/ به دنبال ماهواره‌بر سوخت جامد هستیم- اخبار نظامی {{!}} دف - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم |trans-title=Spokesperson of the Space Group of the Ministry of Defense: "Sarir" and "Sorush" Satellite Carriers Will Be Unveiled / We Are Pursuing Solid Fuel Satellite Carriers - Military News {{!}} Def - Political News |url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/11/07/2190870/سخنگوی-گروه-فضایی-وزارت-دفاع-ماهواره-برهای-سریر-و-سروش-رونمایی-می-شوند-به-دنبال-ماهواره-بر-سوخت-جامد-هستیم |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421193127/https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1398/11/07/2190870/سخنگوی-گروه-فضایی-وزارت-دفاع-ماهواره-برهای-سریر-و-سروش-رونمایی-می-شوند-به-دنبال-ماهواره-بر-سوخت-جامد-هستیم |archive-date=21 April 2024 |access-date=5 April 2021 |website=خبرگزاری تسنیم {{!}} Tasnim |language=fa }}

Launch history

File:Safir Launch Pad.png

Safir made eight launches in its operational career, putting four satellites into orbit.

class="wikitable" ! colspan="8" \|Test flights
Flight no. ! Date & time (UTC) ! colspan="2" \| Payload ! Configuration ! Outcome ! colspan="3" \| Remarks
1 \| 4 February 2008 \| colspan="2" \| Unknown \| Kavoshgar-1 \| {{Success}} \| colspan="3" \|Successful suborbital test flight of Safir's precursor.
2 \| 17 August 2008 \| colspan="2" \| Unknown; may be boilerplate \| Safir-1 \| {{Maybe}} \| colspan="3" \|Iranian officials assert it was a successful suborbital test carrying a boilerplate satellite. US defense officials assert the vehicle failed after first-stage powered flight.{{cite news\|title=Iran launches satellite carrier\|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/7566804.stm\|publisher=BBC News\|access-date=2008-08-17\|date=2008-08-17}}{{cite web\|title=Safir Data Sheet\|url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/safir.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821064617/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/safir.html\|url-status=usurped\|archive-date=August 21, 2010\|website=Space Launch Report\|access-date=19 March 2018\|date=6 February 2018}}
colspan="8" \|Operational flights
Flight no. !Date & time (UTC) ! colspan="2" \|Payload ! Configuration !Outcome !Achieved orbit !Remarks
1 \| 2 February 2009 \| {{flagicon\|Iran}} Omid \|27 kg \| Safir-1 \| {{Success}} \|381.2 x 245.5 km, i 55.71° \| First successful orbital launch of Safir making Iran the ninth country to develop an indigenous satellite launch capability.{{cite web\|url=http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/latest.html\|title=Issue 606\|last=McDowell\|first=Jonathan\|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report\|access-date=2009-02-03}}
2 \| 15 June 2011 \| {{flagicon\|Iran}} Rasad \|15.3 kg \| Safir-1A \| {{Success}} \|271 x 233 km, i 55.6° \| Rasad-1 was launched on the maiden flight of the Safir-1A
3 \| 3 February 2012 \| {{flagicon\|Iran}} Navid \|50 kg \| Safir-1B \| {{Success}} \|375 x 250 km, i 55° \| New configuration of the Safir carrier rocket, featuring a larger second stage with 20% more thrust.{{Cite web \|title=ماهواره ملي"نويد علم و صنعت"به‌فضا پرتاب شد \|url=http://jamejamonline.ir/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100803210565 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101535/http://www1.jamejamonline.ir/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100803210565 \|archive-date=2015-12-22 \|access-date=2012-02-03}}
? \| Between 18 May and 21 June 2012 \| ? \| ? \| ? \| {{Failure\|Supposed failure}} \| \| Satellite imagery shows a blast scar on launch pad, suggesting that there has been a launch. No officials have confirmed a launch. It may have been either an engine test or rocket failure at high altitude.{{cite news\|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/11/second-iranian-satellite-launch-attempt-in-a-month-fails/\|title=Second Iranian satellite launch attempt in a month fails\|last=Clark \|first=Stephen\|publisher=Spaceflight Now\|date=11 February 2019\|access-date=12 February 2019}}
5 \| 2 February 2015 \| {{flagicon\|Iran}} Fajr \|52 kg \| Safir-1B \| {{Success}} \|470 x 224 km, i 55.57° \| First Iranian satellite with orbital maneuverability using cold-gas thrusters.
6 \| 5 February 2019 \| {{flagicon\|Iran}} Doosti \|52 kg \| Safir-1B \| {{Failure}} \| \| The Deputy Minister of Defense in Iran claimed a successful launch.{{Cite web\|url=https://ria.ru/20190207/1550515436.html\|title=Иран запустил второй за месяц спутник собственного производства\|date=2019-02-07\|website=РИА Новости\|language=ru\|access-date=2019-02-07}} Research associates at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies claimed the launch failed at some point after liftoff.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/06/692071812/satellite-imagery-suggests-second-iranian-space-launch-has-failed\|title=Satellite Imagery Suggests 2nd Iranian Space Launch Has Failed\|last=Brumfiel \|first=Geoff\|date=2019-02-06\|website=NPR.org\|language=en\|access-date=2019-02-07}}
(7) \| 29 August 2019 \| colspan="2" \| No payload{{Cite web \|date=2021-04-20 \|title=Mysterious Iran rocket blast draws Trump tweet, Tehran taunt \|url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-donald-trump-ap-top-news-tehran-international-news-ab9a3c287e054a7b9b4734938d1ae587 \|access-date=2022-06-24 \|website=AP NEWS \|language=en}} \| Safir-1B \| {{Failure}} \| \| Launch preparation accident.[https://www.npr.org/2019/08/29/755406765/iranian-rocket-launch-ends-in-failure-images-show?t=1567107739452 Iranian Rocket Launch Ends In Failure, Imagery Shows] npr.org[https://www.space.com/iran-rocket-launch-failure-satellite-photo.html Iran rocket launch failure satellite photo] space.com

class="wikitable"

! colspan="8" |Test flights

Flight no.

! Date & time (UTC)

! colspan="2" | Payload

! Configuration

! Outcome

! colspan="3" | Remarks

| 4 February 2008

| colspan="2" | Unknown

| Kavoshgar-1

| {{Success}}

| colspan="3" |Successful suborbital test flight of Safir's precursor.

| 17 August 2008

| colspan="2" | Unknown; may be boilerplate

| Safir-1

| {{Maybe}}

| colspan="3" |Iranian officials assert it was a successful suborbital test carrying a boilerplate satellite. US defense officials assert the vehicle failed after first-stage powered flight.{{cite news|title=Iran launches satellite carrier|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/7566804.stm|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2008-08-17|date=2008-08-17}}{{cite web|title=Safir Data Sheet|url=http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/safir.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821064617/http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/safir.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 21, 2010|website=Space Launch Report|access-date=19 March 2018|date=6 February 2018}}

colspan="8" |Operational flights

Flight no.

!Date & time

(UTC)

! colspan="2" |Payload

! Configuration

!Outcome

!Achieved orbit

!Remarks

| 2 February 2009

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Omid

|27 kg

| Safir-1

| {{Success}}

|381.2 x 245.5 km, i 55.71°

| First successful orbital launch of Safir making Iran the ninth country to develop an indigenous satellite launch capability.{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/latest.html|title=Issue 606|last=McDowell|first=Jonathan|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|access-date=2009-02-03}}

| 15 June 2011

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Rasad

|15.3 kg

| Safir-1A

| {{Success}}

|271 x 233 km, i 55.6°

| Rasad-1 was launched on the maiden flight of the Safir-1A

| 3 February 2012

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Navid

|50 kg

| Safir-1B

| {{Success}}

|375 x 250 km, i 55°

| New configuration of the Safir carrier rocket, featuring a larger second stage with 20% more thrust.{{Cite web |title=ماهواره ملي"نويد علم و صنعت"به‌فضا پرتاب شد |url=http://jamejamonline.ir/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100803210565 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222101535/http://www1.jamejamonline.ir/newstext.aspx?newsnum=100803210565 |archive-date=2015-12-22 |access-date=2012-02-03}}

| Between 18 May and 21 June 2012

| ?

| {{Failure|Supposed failure}}

| Satellite imagery shows a blast scar on launch pad, suggesting that there has been a launch. No officials have confirmed a launch. It may have been either an engine test or rocket failure at high altitude.{{cite news|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/02/11/second-iranian-satellite-launch-attempt-in-a-month-fails/|title=Second Iranian satellite launch attempt in a month fails|last=Clark |first=Stephen|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=11 February 2019|access-date=12 February 2019}}

| 2 February 2015

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Fajr

|52 kg

| Safir-1B

| {{Success}}

|470 x 224 km, i 55.57°

| First Iranian satellite with orbital maneuverability using cold-gas thrusters.

| 5 February 2019

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Doosti

|52 kg

| Safir-1B

| {{Failure}}

| The Deputy Minister of Defense in Iran claimed a successful launch.{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20190207/1550515436.html|title=Иран запустил второй за месяц спутник собственного производства|date=2019-02-07|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|access-date=2019-02-07}} Research associates at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies claimed the launch failed at some point after liftoff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/06/692071812/satellite-imagery-suggests-second-iranian-space-launch-has-failed|title=Satellite Imagery Suggests 2nd Iranian Space Launch Has Failed|last=Brumfiel |first=Geoff|date=2019-02-06|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07}}

(7)

| 29 August 2019

| colspan="2" | No payload{{Cite web |date=2021-04-20 |title=Mysterious Iran rocket blast draws Trump tweet, Tehran taunt |url=https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-donald-trump-ap-top-news-tehran-international-news-ab9a3c287e054a7b9b4734938d1ae587 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}

| Safir-1B

| {{Failure}}

| Launch preparation accident.[https://www.npr.org/2019/08/29/755406765/iranian-rocket-launch-ends-in-failure-images-show?t=1567107739452 Iranian Rocket Launch Ends In Failure, Imagery Shows] npr.org[https://www.space.com/iran-rocket-launch-failure-satellite-photo.html Iran rocket launch failure satellite photo] space.com

File:2019-08-29 Safir launch failure.jpg after rocket explosion of 29 August 2019 during launch preparation]]

Gallery

File:Safir navid 2.jpg|2012 launch of navid satellite

File:Omid 0650.jpg|Safir at an exhibition at the Mosalla of Tehran

File:Omid 0658.jpg|Safir first-stage engine

References

External links

[http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap-080217-iran-rocket-science.html Iran's Research Rocket Beams Back Science Data], Space.com
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080723223344/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap-080204-iran-satellite-launch.html Iran Launches Rocket, Unveils Space Center], Space.com
[https://archive.today/20130104174506/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1197 Iran's Sputnik], SpaceRef.com
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6394387.stm Iran rocket claim raises tension], BBC
[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/02/697D9B52-7021-4A62-86F6-F320D4B6B0F9.html Iran: Rocket Launch Another Show Of Prowess], RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty
[http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FF82939E-AB77-4219-BC19-56C5D9951E9E.htm Iran claims space rocket launch], AlJazeera
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7225699.stm Iranians inaugurate space project], BBC
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090208173617/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap-080211-iran-two-satellites.html Iran to Launch 2 More Research Rockets Before Placing Satellite into Orbit This Summer], on Space.com
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090214025608/http://www.alalam.ir/english/en-NewsPage.asp?newsid=031030120080817185546 Iran Launches Indigenous Carrier Rocket]

Category:Ballistic missiles of Iran

Category:Space launch vehicles of Iran

Category:Expendable space launch systems

Category:Vehicles introduced in 2008

safir (rocket)

Design and specifications

Variants

=Kavoshgar-1=

=Safir-1A=

=Safir-1B=

Retirement

Launch history

Gallery

See also

References

External links