Safir (rocket)
Safir's 2012 launch from Semnan Space Center with Navid satellite as its payload | |
| Function | LEO launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Iranian Space Agency |
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Size | |
| Height | 22 m (72ft) |
| Diameter | 1.25 m (4.10ft) |
| Mass | 26,000 kg |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Mass | 50 kilograms (110 lb) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Retired |
| Launch sites | Semnan Space Center |
| Total launches | 7 (1 unconfirmed) (+2 test flights) |
| Success(es) | 4 |
| Failure(s) | 3 (1 unconfirmed) |
| First flight | 17 August 2008 |
| Last flight | 5 February 2019 |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 1 × modified Shahab-3 engine |
| Maximum thrust | 363 kN (82,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | N2O4 / UDMH |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 2 × LRE-4 (R-27 Zyb vernier engines) |
| Maximum thrust | 35 kN (7,900 lbf) |
| Propellant | N2O4 / UDMH |
The Safir (Persian: سفیر, meaning "ambassador") was the first Iranian expendable launch vehicle able to place a satellite in orbit. 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 245.2 km (152.4 mi) apogee. This made Iran the ninth nation capable of producing and launching a satellite.
The Simorgh is a larger orbital launcher based on Safir technology which has since replaced the Safir, and is sometimes called the Safir-2.