(Moscow) A Russian rocket successfully lifted off Tuesday to carry a pair of Iranian satellites into orbit, a launch that reflects growing cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.
Published at 9:24 p.m.
The rocket Soyuz took off as planned from the Vostochny launch pad in far-eastern Russia and placed its payload into a designated orbit nine minutes after launch. It carried two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites and several dozen smaller satellites, including the two Iranian ones.
The two Iranian satellites, named Kowsar et Hodhodwere the first launched on behalf of the country’s private sector. In 2022, a Russian rocket launched an Iranian Earth observation satellite that was built in Russia on orders from Tehran.
Tuesday’s launch comes as Russia and Iran have strengthened ties in various areas. Ukraine and the West accuse Tehran of supplying Moscow with hundreds of explosive drones for use on the battlefield in Ukraine and helping to launch their production in Russia. Iranian drone deliveries, which Moscow and Tehran have denied, have enabled a constant barrage of long-range drone strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Moscow and Tehran plan to further strengthen ties with a “comprehensive strategic partnership” to be signed during Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian’s planned visit to Russia. The date for the visit has not yet been set, but the Kremlin has said it could take place soon.
Tuesday’s successful launch of Iranian satellites atop a Russian rocket follows a series of failed launches suffered by Iran’s civilian space program in recent years. The Simorgh program, a satellite-carrying rocket, has suffered five consecutive failures.
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