The Safir is Iran’s first space launch vehicle (SLV) used to place satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). As of October 2017, the Safir has placed four small satellites into LEO.

Safir Development

Iran likely began developing an SLV shortly after the founding of the Iranian Space Agency in February 2004. The Safir is a two-stage variant of the Shahab-3, a medium range, single-stage, liquid fueled missile Iran tested almost exclusively from 1998 to 2006.¹ One analyst has described the Safir as “essentially a Shahab-3 missile as the first stage with a small second stage on top.”² How Iran developed a smaller second stage is unknown, although experts believe it uses an indigenously designed propulsion system.³

Although the Safir’s purpose is ostensibly to deliver satellites into orbit, technological progress in Iran’s space program could transfer to the country’s ballistic missile program. In February 2016, then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that Iran’s progress on SLVs “provides Tehran with the means and motivation to develop longer-range missiles, including ICBMs.”⁴

Specifications

The Safir rocket measures 22.0 m in length (first stage: 13.5m, second stage: 8.5m), 1.25m in diameter, and weighs between 26,000 and 27,000 kg at launch.⁵ For guidance, the rocket relies on small steering engines and hard graphite jet vanes placed closely outside the rocket’s exhaust nozzle.⁶ Shortly after the Safir’s initial flight test, one report suggested that the rocket used smaller missile steering engines from the Russian SS-N-6 submarine launched ballistic missile. Later investigations determined that this conclusion lacked sufficient evidence, despite visual similarities between the engines.⁷

Satellite Launches

Safir has undergone one known flight test and at least eight attempted satellite launches. The rocket’s flight test on August 17, 2008 failed due to an error in the second stage engine when the rocket was at an altitude of 150 km.⁹

After its first successful satellite launch on February 3, 2009, Iran became the ninth country to place a satellite into orbit using indigenous technology.¹⁰ The Safir placed a small, 27 kg satellite named Omid (‘Hope’) into a low Earth orbit between 250 and 325 km altitude.

A second Safir satellite launch in June 15, 2011 delivered the Rasad-1 (‘Observation’) satellite, Iran’s first satellite designed to transmit high-resolution imagery back to Earth’s surface.¹¹ Weighing only 15 kg, the Rasad was placed into LEO at an altitude of 250 km.¹²

On February 3, 2012, the Safir’s third satellite launch placed the 50 kg Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (‘Promise of Science and Industry’) satellite into LEO.¹³

Iran attempted to place an unknown satellite into orbit on May 23, 2012 using the Safir, which likely failed. Satellite imagery of the Semnan launch site from May 2012 shows the site prepared for launch, and imagery from June 2012 shows blast marks similar to previous satellite launches. Iran did not acknowledge a test or attempted satellite launch during this time. ¹⁴ Satellite imagery documented a more calamitous failure in September or October 2012, showing significant damage to the Semnan site’s launch tower.¹⁵

Satellite imagery presented at a conference hosted by Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies indicates another failed launch on February 2, 2013.¹⁶

Iran conducted its fourth successful Safir satellite launch on February 2, 2015, placing the Fajr (‘Dawn’) satellite into LEO. The 50 kg satellite is comparable to other Iranian satellites, but distinguishes itself by being the first with an onboard propulsion system, enabling it to change its orbit to prolong its lifetime.¹⁷

In February 2019, Iran launched a Safir rocket that failed shortly after launch.¹⁸ Reports indicate the Safir rocket intended to carry the Doosti remote-sensing satellite.

In August 2019, President Donald Trump tweeted surveillance photos of the damaged launch pad at Semnan Launch Site.¹⁹ The tweet suggested that the Safir rocket had exploded during final launch preparations, though the United States denied any involvement.

Iranian Space Agency (ISA)

The ISA ostensibly pursues civilian and research goals, specifically the development of communication and remote sensing satellites, as well as launch vehicle technology.²⁰ The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, which takes direction from the Iran Space Council (ISC), oversees the agency. The Iranian president chairs the ISC, which is presided over by the Minister of Defense (MOD).²¹ Former Iranian MOD, Hossein Dehghan, was a former brigadier general of the Islamic Republic Guard Corps (IRGC) air force. The dual-use nature of rocket technology and the influence of the IRGC makes some analysts concerned that the ISA is developing long-range ballistic missiles under the guise of a space program.