Salman (rocket stage)
Manufacturer | IRGCASF |
---|---|
Country of origin | ![]() |
Used on | Qased |
General characteristics | |
Diameter | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) |
Gross mass | 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) |
Associated stages | |
Comparable | Star 48 , Castor 30 |
Launch history | |
Status | Active |
Total launches | 1 |
Successes (stage only) | 1 |
Failed | 0 |
First flight | 22 April 2020 |
Salman upper-stage | |
Burn time | 60 seconds |
Propellant | Solid |
The Salman (Persian: سلمان) is a solid-fuel upper stage designed and built by the IRGC Aerospace Force (IRGCASF) for use in space applications, both as the second stage of the Qased satellite launch vehicle, and as part of a future anti-ballistic missile system. The system was announced on 9 February 2020, and was launched for the first time on 22 April 2020, placing Iran's first military satellite, named Noor, into orbit.[1][2][3]
Design[]
Salman weighs 1900 Kilograms, has a diameter of 1 meter, and fires for 60 seconds. In contrast to previous Iranian commercial and military rocket designs, Salman has a wound carbon-fiber composite casing rather than the traditional steel motor casings typical of other Iranian designs, this drastically reduces weight and improves performance, allowing for more payload capacity. Another break with past Iranian designs is the first ever use of Gimballed Thrust Vector Control (TVC) for steering as opposed to aerodynamic control surfaces, jet vanes, or Vernier thrusters previously used.[1][4][5]
A steerable nozzle provides several advantages to Salman as opposed to other methods that result in its superior performance and efficiency; as opposed to jet vanes, no thrust is lost in a gimballed system when steering; control surfaces only work in endo-atmospheric flight and cannot be used for injecting satellites or atmospheric re-entry; Vernier thrusters and their associated piping, turbopumps, tanks etc... are heavy and their omission could make way for a larger payload.[6]
Launch History[]
Flight No. | Date | Payload | Outcome | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 22 April 2020 | Noor | Success | Iran's first military reconnaissance satellite[7] |
See also[]
- Qased (rocket)
- IRGC Aerospace Force
- Noor (satellite)
- List of upper-stages
- Asian Space Race
- Iranian Space Agency
References[]
- ^ a b "Salman TVC rocket motor". b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ AFP. "Iran unveils ballistic missile, 'new generation' engines". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ Sheldon, John (2020-05-12). "#SpaceWatchGL Perspectives On Iran's Satellite Launch: Fabian Hinz On The Qased Satellite Launch Vehicle". SpaceWatch.Global. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "Iran's solid-propellant SLV program is alive and kicking". armscontrolwonk.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "The IRGC gets into the space-launch business". IISS. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "گزارش تسنیم از موتور فضایی "سلمان"|درگیری با اهداف مهاجم خارج از جو زمین/ گام مهم سپاه برای ساخت سلاح ضدماهواره جاسوسی- اخبار نظامی | دف - اخبار سیاسی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- ^ "Iran launches its first military satellite". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
- Rocket stages