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| Aᴍɪʀ @AmirIGM Analysis/Commentary on Iranian Geopolitical and Military affairs. Author of Iran GeoMil blog  RT/Follow ≠ Endorsement irangeomil.blogspot.com Joined June 2015 56 Following 11.8K Followers Followed by Intel and Recon, IntelSky, and 45 others you follow |
Aᴍɪʀ
@AmirIGM
Iran's Space Agency launched an uncrewed test-flight of its prospective 500kg manned capsule aboard a "Salman" launch vehicle. The capsule reached 130km altitude on a suborbital trajectory.
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1732327233438544226?s=20
The LV is derived from the Ghadr ballistic missile, which has ~2000km range in its normal configuration. It's a single-stage liquid-fuel booster with 1.25m diameter.
The capsule design has existed for years, and its first test was thought to be delayed due to funding issues. It's a single-seat capsule of the conventional cone/bell shape, with a seperable adaptor at the base.
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1732327255555146068?s=20
Though obviously not related, Salman is similar in basic configuration to Mercury-Redstone, which launched the first American to space. Both are single-seat and derived from single-stage MRBMs. The Mercury capsule weighed just ~1100 kg (~1900kg at launch).
If/when Salman does conduct a crewed launch, it would almost certainly be suborbital, but it would also be the lightest capsule to take a man to space. Iran's Space Agency is developing heavier launch vehicles, but they won't be operational any time soon.
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1732340074023399468?s=20
The capsule used in this test flight was built sometime in 2020/2021. The design is slated for a crewed launch in 2031.
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1732341020275163437?s=20
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@fab_hinz
thinks the launch vehicle is Scud-derived (~800-1000km range), not Ghadr-derived. I'm still not 100% sure on that but if so, it allows for the expansion of internal volume from 1.25×0.8m to 2×1.5m as mentioned in 2021 http://snn.ir/fa/news/909871
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1732402825865343106?s=20
To clarify: that is planned future expansion for a man-rated capsule. Presently this 500kg capsule seems to be sub-scale (or have the inside filled with equipment). So the fact that larger 1.25m diameter of Ghadr/Safir type LV is available bodes well for the larger future capsule
Aᴍɪʀ
@AmirIGM
MODAFL confirms 0.88m diameter, so LV was Scud/Qiam derived. Other specs:
Weight: 6 tons
Height: 12m
Capsule diameter: 1.3m
Capsule height: 1.8m
Motor burn: 67 seconds till 35km altitude
Capsule separation at 45km altitude
Final capsule altitude: 130km
View: https://twitter.com/AmirIGM/status/1733463060084310275?s=20
