Simorgh (rocket)

Simorgh (Persian: ماهواره‌بر سیمرغ, Phoenix), also called Safir-2, is an Iranian expendable launch vehicle under development.[2][3] It is the successor of the Safir, Iran's first space launch vehicle.[4] Its mission is to carry heavier satellites into higher orbit than Safir.[5]

Simorgh
The Simorgh space launch vehicle.
FunctionSmall-lift space launch vehicle
Country of origin Iran
Size
Height26.5 m (87 ft)
Diameter2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) first stage, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) second stage
Mass87 t (192,000 lb)
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO
(500 km)
Mass350 kg (770 lb)
Associated rockets
Familyderived from Safir
Launch history
StatusActive
Launch sitesSemnan LP-2
Total launches5 (+1 suborbital)
Success(es)0 (1 suborbital)
Failure(s)5
First flight19 April 2016[1] (suborbital)
27 July 2017 (orbital)
Last flightActive
First stage
Powered by4 × modified Shahab-3 engines + 4 verniers
Maximum thrust1,590 kN (360,000 lbf)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Second stage
Powered by4 × modified R-27 Zyb vernier engines
Maximum thrust70 kN (16,000 lbf)
PropellantN2O4 / UDMH
Third stage
Powered bySaman-1
Maximum thrust13 kN (2,900 lbf)
PropellantSolid

The project was unveiled by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on 3 February 2010, as part of celebrations of the first anniversary of the launch of Omid, the first indigenously-launched Iranian satellite,[6] and was launched for the first time on 19 April 2016.[7]

Design

The Simorgh rocket is 26.5 metres (87 ft) long, and has a launch mass of 87 tonnes (192,000 lb). Its first stage with a diameter of 2.4 meters is powered by a cluster of four synchronized Safir-1B first-stage engines with four separate turbopumps, each of these engines generating up to 37,000 kilograms-force (360 kN; 82,000 lbf) of thrust, plus a set of four vernier engines sharing a single turbopump used for attitude control providing an additional 14,000 kgf (140 kN; 31,000 lbf). At liftoff, these engines generate a total 162,000 kgf (1,590 kN; 360,000 lbf) of thrust.[8][9] The second stage with a diameter of 1.5 meters utilizes a set of four smaller engines (originally the vernier engines of the soviet R-27 Zyb[10]) producing 7,000 kgf (69 kN; 15,000 lbf) of thrust.[9][11] The third stage is a solid-fueled Saman-1 upper stage producing 1,300 kgf (13 kN; 2,900 lbf) of thrust.[9][11] Enabling the Simorgh to place a 350-kilogram (770 lb) payload or one main payload and several secondary cubesats into a 500-kilometre (310 mi) low Earth orbit .[1][12]

The Simorgh's total flight time to a 500-530km orbit is between 480 and 495 seconds.[12] First stage's flight time is about 102 seconds.[13] First stage separation takes place at an altitude of 90 km and a velocity of 2300 m/s. Simultaneously second stage engines ignite and the fairing shroud is ejected, the satellite is then accelerated to 7400 m/s and injected into its designated orbit.[12]

In contrast to its predecessor Safir, the Simorgh is integrated and assembled vertically on the launch pad, each stage goes through manufacturing horizontally and is subsequently brought to the launch pad, where final assembly of the stages are completed with the aid of a custom designed service tower.[12]

The Simorgh Launch Pad at Imam Khomeini Space Center.

Reliability

The development of the Simorgh has been marked with difficulties and unreliability of certain sub-systems due to the overcomplexity of its engines and turbopumps. Out of the system's first four launches (two orbital and two sub-orbital launches) there have been three failures, giving the rocket a reliability rating of twenty five percent. There were however, indications of progressive improvements to the design and reliability of the system with each successive launch; with the 2017 launch operating for 120 seconds before failure, the 2019 launch operating 450 seconds before failure, and the 2020 launch operating correctly for 475 seconds out of the 490 seconds of operation required for a successful mission, giving the missions a 25, 92, and 97 percent success rate respectively, indicating a trend of increasing reliability in the design.[12][14][15]

Launch history
Flight No. Date & Time (UTC) Payload Outcome Type Remarks
1 19 April 2016 No Payload Success Sub-orbital test flight[7]
2 27 July 2017 Tolou Failure Orbital test flight[13] Simorgh operated for 136 seconds.[13] Second stage failed.[16]
3 15 January 2019 Payam (named "AUT-SAT" previously)[16] Failure Orbital test flight[13] Simorgh operated for 455 seconds.[13] Third stage failed.[17]
4 9 February 2020

15:45

 Zafar-1[18] Failure Orbital test flight[19] Simorgh operated for 475 seconds. Satellite failed to reach orbit; reached speed of 6,500m/s out of the 7,400m/s required. First stage operated fully correctly.[13][20]
5? 12 June 2021 Unknown Disputed launch existence U.S. official stated "is aware of an Iranian rocket launch failure". Satelite imagery "looked like a launch" occurred. Iran’s Telecommunications Minister denied any launch.[21]
6 30 December 2021 Three research devices[22] Failure Orbital test flight[5] First time Iran launches three cargos at the same time.[5]

Simorgh operated for about 600 seconds (500 seconds for the second stage). Devices didn't enter orbit; reached an altitude of 470 km and a speed of 7,350 m/s, out of the 7,600m/s required.[23][24]

  • Simorgh during the launch of Payam satellite on 15 January 2021
  • Simorgh during launch preparations
  • Simorgh in its servicing tower

See also

References
  1. Eshel, Tamir (24 April 2016). "Simorgh First Launch – an Iranian Success or Failure?". Defense Update. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  2. "Iran fails in satellite launch attempt – Spaceflight Now".
  3. "Iran brags it launched rocket into space... with mouse, turtles & worms". New York Daily News. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  4. ""سفیر" رسما بازنشسته شد تا "سیمرغ" مهیای سفر فضایی شود/ طلسم استفاده ماهواره‌بر ایرانی از سوخت جامد با سریر و سروش می‌شکند؟ +عکس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  5. YJC, خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران | آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان | (2021-12-31). "پرواز دوباره سیمرغ/ ماهواره‌بر سیمرغ چه ویژگی‌هایی دارد؟" (in Persian). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  6. Arrott, Elizabeth (2010-02-03). "Iran Announces New Rockets, Satellites on Space Day". VOA News. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  7. "Simorgh First Launch - an Iranian Success or Failure?". 24 April 2016.
  8. "Iranian DM: Simorgh to Carry Tolou, Mesbah Satellites into Space". Fars News Agency. 2010-02-03. Archived from the original on 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  9. "موشک های ماهواره بر ایران". جنگاوران (in Persian). 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  10. "Soviet R-27 SLBM and the reuse of its steering engines by North Korea and Iran". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  11. "Safir-2 (Simorgh) IRILV". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  12. "ماهواره‌بر "سیمرغ" چگونه متولد شد؟ +عکس". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  13. "تحقق ۹۰ درصد اهداف تحقیقاتی در پرتاب ماهواره «ظفر»". defapress.ir. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  14. Egozi, Arie (2020-06-29). "New Iranian Missile Could Strike Central Europe: Analysis". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  15. Berger, Eric (2021-06-25). "Rocket Report: China to copy SpaceX's Super Heavy? Vulcan slips to 2022". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  16. Krebs, Gunter. "Simorgh (Safir-2)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  17. Tawfeeq, Mohammed; Qiblawi, Tamara (15 January 2019). "Despite US warning, Iran launches satellite and fails". CNN. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  18. https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/02/10/iran-fails-in-satellite-launch-attempt/ - 11 February 2020
  19. "بیش از ۹۵ درصد از اهداف طراحی شده برای پرتاب ماهواره ظفر محقق شد". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  20. "Iranian Satellite Launched But Fails To Reach Earth's Orbit". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2020-02-09.
  21. "Iran likely had failed rocket launch, preparing for another". AP NEWS. 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  22. "Iran launches rocket into space as nuclear talks continue". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  23. ""Simorgh" satellite carrier successfully launched into space". Mehr News Agency. 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  24. مستند پرواز سیمرغ [The flight of the Simorgh documentary] (in Persian), 2022-01-02, retrieved 2022-03-16
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