Russian rocket puts Iranian satellite into orbit

2024-02-29 09:18:02

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian rocket successfully put an Iranian satellite into orbit Thursday, a launch that underscores growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia’s state corporation Roscosmos said a Soyuz rocket lifted off from the Vostochny launch center in the country’s far east to put the Iranian satellite and 18 other Russian satellites into orbit.

According to Iranian state television, its satellite, which weighs 110 kilos (242 pounds), is equipped with three cameras to take images for environmental and agricultural purposes, among others.

The satellite will orbit around the poles, synchronized to maintain the same position relative to the sun, and will be fully functional once its systems are calibrated, the network added.

Thursday’s launch comes after Russia already put the Iranian Khayyam satellite into orbit in 2022.

The Iranian Minister of Communication, Isa Zarepour, told the television station that the Islamic Republic’s space program has carried out a total of 23 launches, 12 of them during the presidential election of Ebrahim Raisi.

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