Simorgh (rocket) facts for kids
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The Simorgh satellite launch vehicle launching on its first orbital test flight on 27 July 2017.
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| Function | Small-lift space launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Country of origin |  Iran |
| Size | |
| Height | 25.9 m (85 ft) |
| Diameter | 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) first stage, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) second stage |
| Mass | 87 t (192,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 (optional 3rd stage) |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO 200 km | 800 kg (1,800 lb) |
| Payload to LEO 500 km | 250 kg (550 lb) |
| Payload to LEO 500 km (with Saman-1) | 400 kg (880 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Derived from Safir |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal |
| Total launches | 7 or 8 (1 suborbital) |
| Successes | 3 (1 suborbital) |
| Failures | 4 or 5 |
| First flight | 19 April 2016 (suborbital) 27 July 2017 (orbital) |
| Last flight | 6 December 2024 (orbital) |
| First stage | |
| Length | 17.8 m |
| Diameter | 2.4 m |
| Engines | 4 × Shahab-5 + 4 verniers |
| Thrust | 1,590 kN (360,000 lbf) |
| Burn time | 120 seconds |
| Fuel | N2O4 / UDMH |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 1.5 m |
| Engines | 4 × R-27 Zyb |
| Thrust | 71.6 kN (16,100 lbf) |
| Burn time | 320 seconds |
| Fuel | N2O4 / UDMH |
| Third stage (Optional) | |
| Engines | Saman-1 |
| Thrust | 13 kN (2,900 lbf) |
| Burn time | 40 seconds |
| Fuel | Solid |
The Simorgh (which means Simurgh in Persian), also known as Safir-2, is a special rocket made by Iran. It is designed to carry things into space and is used only once. This rocket is an improved version of the Safir, which was Iran's first space rocket.
The main job of the Simorgh is to launch heavier satellites into higher orbits around Earth. The project was first shown to the public by the Iranian President on February 3, 2010. This was part of a celebration for the first anniversary of the launch of Omid, Iran's first satellite made in the country. The Simorgh rocket had its first launch on April 19, 2016.
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How the Simorgh Rocket Works
The Simorgh is a two-stage rocket that uses liquid fuel. It was developed from the earlier Safir rocket. It can carry a payload (like a satellite) weighing about 250 kilograms (550 pounds). It can place this payload into a circular orbit about 500 kilometers (310 miles) above Earth. This is called a low Earth orbit.
The Simorgh is also the first Iranian rocket that can carry more than one thing into space at a time. For example, it can carry one main satellite and several smaller ones called cubesats. The older Safir rocket could only carry a 50-kilogram (110-pound) payload into a lower, oval-shaped orbit.
Simorgh's Size and Power
The Simorgh rocket is about 26.5 meters (87 feet) long. When it's ready for launch, it weighs around 87 tons (192,000 pounds). Its first stage is 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) wide. This stage is powered by four special engines working together. Each of these engines can create a lot of thrust, which is the force that pushes the rocket up.
The first stage also has four smaller engines called vernier engines. These are used to steer the rocket and keep it on the right path. When the rocket lifts off, all these engines together create a huge amount of thrust. The second stage of the rocket is 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) wide. It uses four smaller engines that also produce thrust to push the rocket higher.
Journey to Space
The Simorgh rocket takes about 480 to 495 seconds (around 8 minutes) to reach its orbit. This orbit is usually between 500 and 530 kilometers (310-330 miles) above Earth. The first stage of the rocket burns its fuel for about 102 seconds.
When the first stage finishes its job, it separates from the rest of the rocket. This happens at an altitude of 90 kilometers (56 miles) and a speed of 2,300 meters per second (5,100 miles per hour). At the same time, the nose cone that protects the satellite also falls away. The second stage then fires its engines, speeding up the satellite to 7,400 meters per second (16,500 miles per hour). This speed is needed to put the satellite into its correct orbit.
Launching the Simorgh
Unlike its older brother, the Safir, the Simorgh rocket is put together standing upright on its launch pad. This launch pad is located at the Imam Khomeini Space Center. Each part of the rocket is made horizontally and then brought to the launch pad. There, a special tower helps put all the stages together.
Saman-1: An Extra Boost
There's also a special part called Saman-1. This is a rocket stage that uses solid fuel and is still being developed. It can provide extra thrust and will be used as an additional upper stage in future missions. This means it can help carry even heavier things or send satellites to higher orbits.
How Reliable is Simorgh?
Building the Simorgh rocket has had some challenges. Sometimes, parts of its engines and pumps were difficult to make perfectly. Out of its first four launches, three of them did not fully succeed. This meant the rocket had a reliability rating of 25 percent at first.
However, engineers have been working hard to make the rocket better with each launch. For example, the 2017 launch worked for 120 seconds before it had a problem. The 2019 launch worked for 450 seconds, and the 2020 launch worked correctly for 475 seconds. This shows that the rocket's design is getting more reliable over time.
Simorgh's Missions
As of December 2024, the Simorgh rocket has had 7 official launch missions. This number of launches makes it one of the top 40 active satellite launchers in the world.
Images for kids
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Simorgh during the launch of Payam satellite on 15 January 2021
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Simorgh during launch preparations
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Simorgh in its servicing tower
