Noor-3 Satellite

  • Iran recently launched Noor-3 imaging satellite into space.
  • Noor-3 Satellite is an imaging satellite developed by Iran.
  • It is a satellite with potential spying capabilities, boosting Iran’s abilities in space.
  • It has been put in an orbit 450 kilometers (280 miles) above the Earth’s surface.
  • It was launched by the three-stage Qased, or messenger carrier.
  • The spacecraft’s two predecessors, Noor-1 and Noor-2, launched in April 2020 and
    March 2022, respectively, also atop Qased rockets.
  • Noor-1 fell back to Earth in April 2022, but Noor-2 remains operational and may work in
    concert with Noor 3 when the latter satellite comes online.
  • The launch was carried out by the aerospace arm of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary
    Guard.
  • The Guard operates its own space program parallel to Iran’s regular armed forces and
    answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
  • It launched its first satellite into space in April 2020 (Noor-1)