The Iranian Defense Ministry launched a new satellite carrier with a powerful engine running on solid fuel and capable of lifting satellites toward operational orbits 500 kilometers into space.



A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said at a televised interview on Monday that the homegrown satellite carrier, dubbed Zoljenah, has been launched in a research program that employs Iran’s most powerful engine consuming solid fuel.

Zoljenah can carry a satellite weighing 220 kg into an orbit 500 kilometers above the Earth.

The spokesman said Iran has now three operational satellite carriers, namely Zoljenah, Sarir, and Soroush.

Sarir is capable of carrying a payload of one ton into a height of 1,000 km and is going to replace Simorgh, he added.