ISNA – The head of Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Morteza Berari announced that three domestically-made satellites have been completely built and are ready to be launched.

In a press conference on the occasion of World Space Week (October 4-10), Berari said, domestically-made satellites Dousti, Payam and Nahid-1 have been completely built and are ready to be launched

He expressed hope that the satellites will be placed into earth’s orbit by the end of current Iranian year (March 20).

“Payam will be placed into the orbit 500 kilometers above the earth’s surface and its data will be used for developing programs,” he added.

Nahid 1 is the first Iranian satellite made specifically for communication purposes, which is designed and built by Iran Space Research Center.

Payam satellite is designed and developed by Tehran’s Amirkabir University of Technology and is planned to carry out imagery mission in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Iran has previously sent Simorgh satellite and Pajouhesh explorer into the orbit in recent years.

Barari added that Zafar satellite will be built by the end of current Iranian year and will be placed in the queue to be launched then.

The ISA has planned to build imagery satellites with one-meter-precision by the end of current Iran’s 20-year National Vision program on 2025.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he pointed to developing space startups, increasing Iran’s space budget, establishing Supreme Space Council and space technologies