Iran’s Chabahar Space Base Ready for Satellite Launch, Says ICT Minister
Tehran, The Gulf Observer: Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sattar Hashemi, has announced that the Chabahar Space Base in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan is now ready to launch a satellite at the earliest opportunity.
Speaking at the World Space Day ceremony on Saturday, Hashemi stated that the national launch base has reached 93 percent completion, with its first phase set to become operational imminently.
The Chabahar Space Base, designed for medium-heavy liquid-fueled launch vehicles, is Iran’s primary national space launch site and one of several facilities currently under development as part of the country’s broader space infrastructure expansion.
Hashemi also revealed plans to officially inaugurate two other major ground satellite stations—Salmas and Chenaran—by the end of the year. “We will inform the public about the official launch of these stations,” he added.
Emphasizing Iran’s growing self-reliance in space technology, the minister noted that the necessary infrastructure for satellite development is being advanced under the current administration, paving the way for a stronger domestic space industry. “Iran’s homegrown satellites and technological advancements promise a bright future for the Islamic Republic,” he said.
Highlighting recent achievements, Hashemi announced that for the first time, Iran successfully established message and call relay in the KU band. “A text message was sent from one station and received at the Qeshm station,” he explained, underscoring the nation’s expanding capabilities in satellite-based communications.
The minister also referred to Iran’s family of satellites—Hodhod, Nahid, Pars, and Mahda—explaining that each name signifies the satellite’s distinct mission and function in orbit.
“We must pursue a path that enhances the quality of life,” Hashemi remarked, acknowledging that while global development since the industrial revolution has brought progress, it has also caused social and environmental challenges. “In this direction, we have become a global village thanks to communication infrastructure and technology,” he concluded.
