FAJR

Spacecraft nº:

Iran spacecraft nº: 7

Launch data: Designation  40387 / 15006A Launch date  02 Febr 2015 - 08:50? UT Launch site  Semnan SLC, Launch vehicle  Safir-1B Mission  Technology, Imaging Earth orbit: Perigee / Apogee  224 x 469 km Eccentricity   Inclination   55.5° Period   min

Description:

• FAJR is the new generation of Omid (Hope) satellite, which was designed and manufactured by Iranian experts in 2009. According to IRNA news agency, the satellite was locally made, as was its launcher. Fajr is capable of staying in the space for 1.5 years and taking and transmitting high-quality and accurate pictures to stations on Earth. The orbiter is technically characterized by an orbit which could promote from 250 to 450 kilometers through a thruster or an engine. Equipped with GPS navigation system, Fajr is the fourth Iranian-made satellite which was put into orbit after three others between 2009 and 2012.
• The first Fajr launch took apparently place on 23th May 2012 or around that date, but failed and was not reported in the media. Satellite images taken before and after that date showed, that a rocket launch took place from the launch pad. The pad was clean on 18th May, but imagery from 21th June indicates that a launch took place between those dates.
• On 2 February 2015, the successful launch of Fajr into orbit has been announced.

Mission details:

• Iran has launched its fourth satellite on 02 Feb 2015, its first successful orbital launch since Feb 2012. Fajr (Aurora) is a 52 kg technology payload with a cold-gas thruster developed by Iran Electronics Industries. There is suggestive evidence (mostly based on satellite imagery of launch pad damage revealed by the magazine Jane's Intelligence Review) that Iran had two launch failures in 2012, as well as more speculative evidence of further launch failures since then.
• Iran's Fajr satellite does not seem to have made any orbital maneuvers.
  The orbit decayed from an initial 223 x 470 km to 196 x 293 km by Feb 22, 2015 and then after falling to 134 x 155 km early on Feb 26 it reentered. The Safir rocket stage orbit decayed a bit more slowly, and was 203 x 325 km on Feb 26.

External links:

• Alalam.ir: First photo and video of “FAJR” Satellite
  
• You Tube:
  (courtesy YouTube)
  
• Spaceflight 101: Satellite Information