This morning, the "Nahid 2" communications satellite was launched into space; a launch that is considered an important step for the development of the country's space communications.
According to Ashura News, citing Fars News Agency: Iran has pursued numerous projects in the field of telecommunications satellites in the course of expanding its space capabilities, one of the most prominent of which is "Nahid 2", a satellite designed and built as the second step in the "Nahid" strategic plan with the aim of developing indigenous telecommunications technologies. This satellite was developed under the supervision of the country's Space Organization by the Iranian Space Research Institute and in partnership with knowledge-based companies, and as a strategic project, it is considered a symbol of Iran's progress in the field of astronautics and space communications. In the launch of Nahid 2, indigenous technologies such as Ku-band communications, three-axis attitude control, two-way communications, and data management will be tested in orbit for the first time.
A scientific project with the participation of academic elites
Mehdi Nasiri, head of the Satellite Systems Research Center of the Space Research Institute, has previously said about the missions of this satellite that the main missions include "developing and testing indigenous telecommunications technologies in the Leo orbit, testing orbital transfer, determining a position independent of GPS, measuring space radiation, testing various satellite subsystems in space, and establishing communication between two points in the satellite's line of sight." This satellite also provides a hardware platform for building more advanced telecommunications satellites. Nasiri also mentioned about the scientific activities in the satellite construction project, 10 academic projects and the launch of solar panel simulator laboratories, a clean room, and the definition of 150 scientific documents. That is, during the design and construction of Nahid 2, about 150 reports, standards, technical drawings, and scientific instructions were compiled, which shows that this project was a precise and documented engineering work.
Technical Features of Iran's Latest Satellite Achievement
Nahid 2 is technically a light-weight telecommunications satellite (microsatellite) weighing about 110 kg, which is placed in low-Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude of about 500 km and has an injection inclination of 55 degrees. This type of orbit is suitable for satellites that need to have fast and direct communication with ground stations and transmit fast communications. Due to its proximity to the Earth, signals arrive faster, but the satellite must orbit the Earth at high speed.
The main mission of Nahid 2 is to test new telecommunications technologies, including sending and receiving voice and data, as well as developing communication systems in the UHF, Ku, X and S bands. "UHF" is used to send simple messages, control commands, and stable communications. The S-band has a higher frequency and is used to transmit more information at a higher speed (such as telecommunications data or images). Having these two bands means that the satellite can both receive commands from the ground and send information to the ground faster and with better quality. The Ku-band is also one of the most widely used bands in commercial satellite communications, and a local version of it was tested for the first time in this launch. This communication band is used for applications such as satellite television broadcasting, satellite internet, aircraft and ship communications, and VSAT systems for data communications using small antennas.
The satellite is also equipped with a three-axis attitude control system, the local version of which was also tested for the first time in this launch. The three-axis attitude control system means that the satellite can adjust and maintain its position and angle in all three main directions (up-down, left-right, front-back). This is usually done with the help of sensors, reaction wheels or magnets. The result is that the satellite does not wobble in its orbit and is always oriented correctly, like a professional camera that is completely locked on to the subject.
Using advanced technology to generate electricity in space
One of the highlights of this project is the use of "unfolding solar array" technology, which is being used for the first time in an Iranian satellite on a real scale. This technology is vital for energy sustainability in long-duration space missions. Satellites supply their electricity from the sun. For this, solar panels (solar arrays) are installed on the satellite body. In some satellites, these panels are closed at launch and, once in orbit, open and rotate toward the sun like wings or panels to capture more light. These types of panels are called deployable solar arrays, which allow the satellite to draw more power and stay active for longer.
A platform for more advanced communications satellites
Nahid 2 is actually a continuation of the Nahid 1 project; a satellite that was developed as Iran’s first experience in the field of space communications. While Nahid 1 focused more on establishing one-way communication and sending simple text messages, Nahid 2 has the ability to establish two-way calls and carry out more complex missions with significant upgrades in its subsystems. From this perspective, Nahid 2 can be considered a step forward on the path to achieving more operational and efficient satellites.
This satellite can also serve as a test platform for national telecommunications satellites in higher orbits (such as GEO). Transferring technical knowledge from the Nahid 2 project to other space programs in the country is part of Iran's grand strategy for technological independence in the space field. The successful launch of this satellite will strengthen Iran's position among countries with indigenous space telecommunications capabilities.
Iran's Successful Space Diplomacy and Overcoming Sanctions
Venezuela 2 was launched by a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia. Soyuz is one of the most widely used and reliable Russian launchers with a long history of launching satellites. In this launch, 2 satellites and 16 other microsatellites from different countries were also launched into space. Cooperation with Russia for the launch of Venzuela 2 demonstrates Iran's successful space diplomacy and overcoming sanctions that were imposed to limit Iran's space progress. The installation of the logos of the Iranian Space Organization and the Iranian Space Research Institute on the body of the Soyuz launcher indicated Iran's official presence and active participation in this international mission
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