Russia sends 3 Iranian satellites into orbit, report says : NPR

TEHRAN, Iran — Russia on Sunday despatched three Iranian communications satellites into orbit, the second such launch since July, Iranian state tv reported.

The report stated {that a} Russian rocket despatched the satellites to circle the Earth on a 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit from the Vostochny launchpad in japanese Russia. The three satellites are dubbed Paya, Kowsar and Zafar-2.

The report stated that Paya, weighing 150 kilograms (330 kilos), is the heaviest satellite tv for pc that Iran has ever deployed into orbit. Kowsar weighs 35 kilograms (77 kilos), however the report did not specify how heavy Zafar-2 is.

The satellites function as much as 3-meter decision photos, relevant within the administration of water sources, agriculture and the surroundings. Their life span is as much as 5 years.

Russia sometimes sends Iran’s satellites into orbit, highlighting the robust ties between the 2 international locations. In July, a Russian rocket despatched Iranian communications satellite tv for pc Nahid-2 into orbit.

Russia, which signed a “strategic partnership” treaty with Iran in January, strongly condemned the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran that got here throughout a 12-day air conflict in June and killed almost 1,100 Iranians, together with army commanders and nuclear scientists. Retaliatory missile barrages by Iran killed 28 folks in Israel.

As a long-standing mission, Iran from time-to-time launches satellite tv for pc carriers to ship its satellites into area.

The USA has stated that Iran’s satellite tv for pc launches defy a U.N. Safety Council decision and known as on Tehran to undertake no exercise involving ballistic missiles able to delivering nuclear weapons. U.N. sanctions associated to Iran’s ballistic missile program expired in 2023.