Noor (satellite)

Nour Satellite (also spelled Noor, Persian: ماهواره نور‎, lit. 'Light') callsign "NOUR 01", is an Iranian military satellite, which was launched in orbit on 22 April 2020. According to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the launch of Nour satellite was done from the central desert of Iran; it also mentioned that this satellite had reached an orbit of 425 kilometers above the surface of the Earth.[1]

Space launch

The Nour Satellite was launched by the Qased,[2] a three-stage rocket which was powered by a combination of solid and liquid fuels according to IRGC.[3]

The mentioned satellite is said to be the first Iranian military satellite.[4][5] The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps applied a Qased satellite carrier in order to launch the satellite into space.[6]

Launch reactions

On April 22, 2020 US Defense Department acknowledged that Iran successfully launched a military satellite for the first time.[7]

Senior Pentagon officials called Iran's satellite launch a provocation. General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed on the Qased satellite carrier technology, saying that "when you have a missile capable of going a very long way... it means that it [Iran] has the ability once again to threaten their neighbors, our allies".[8] The satellite itself, however, was dismissed by Space Force General John W. Raymond as "a tumbling webcam in space; unlikely providing intel."[9]

Donald Trump said that the satellite launch is not an advancement on the Iran's missile program and the showcasing "was only for television," while the US is watching Iran very closely.[10]

Abdel Bari Atwan, the editor-in-chief of Rai al-Youm and Al Quds Al Arabi said that "Iran's recent launched military satellite to space will change the region's equations."[11]

References
  1. Iran launches military satellite into space amid US tensions euronews.com Retrieved 22 April 2020
  2. Global News (22 April 2020). "Iran's Revolutionary Guards say it launched country's first military satellite into orbit". Corus.
  3. Borger, Julian (22 April 2020). "Iran reportedly launches first military satellite as Trump makes threats". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. Iran's Guards say launched first military satellite into orbit reuters.com Retrieved 22 April 2020
  5. IRGC mentioned about the first successful launching of military satellite bbc.com Retrieved 22 April 2020
  6. Noor satellite, world reactions iribnews.ir Retrieved 22 April 2020
  7. "US assesses Iran successfully launched a military satellite for the first time". CNN. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. Macias, Amanda (22 April 2020). "Iran launches first military satellite in latest show of force". CNBC. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  9. John W. Raymond [@SpaceForceCSO] (April 25, 2020). "@US_SpaceCom continues to track 2 objects @PeteAFB's @18SPCS associated w/#space launch from Iran, characterizing NOUR 01(#SATCAT 45529) as 3U Cubesat. Iran states it has imaging capabilities—actually, it's a tumbling webcam in space; unlikely providing intel. #spaceishard" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. "Al Jazeera questions Trump on Iran's military satellite launch". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  11. Noor Satellite will change the equations of the region .mashreghnews.ir Retrieved 11 May 2020

Further reading
  • "Qased launches Noor satellite on YouTube". SciNews. 22 April 2020. A Qased launch vehicle launched the Noor satellite from Iran, on 22 April 2020. According to official sources, Qased (قاصد) is a “three-stage, solid-propellant launcher” and the Noor ( نور) satellite was placed in a 425-km orbit.
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