Tel Aviv: Iran launched its Nour 3 satellite into orbit and positioned it in an orbit approximately 450 kilometres above the Earth’s surface. The state-run news agency made the announcement about the imaging satellite on September 27.
The announcement coincides with rising hostilities between Iran and Western countries. Notably, Western authorities have not yet acknowledged the satellite launch or the successful installation in orbit.
According to Iran International, a London based website operated by the opposition to the Iranian regime, Iran has a history of promptly announcing launches that reach space on its state-run television channels, but it often refrains from acknowledging failed attempts.
“The United States has previously accused Iran of violating a UN Security Council resolution by conducting satellite launches.”
According to the website, Nour belongs to a class of military satellites. The first of these, Noor-1, was launched on April 22, 2020, and operated in a 425-kilometre orbit before decaying on April 13, 2022, marking a one-year lifespan. Nour-2, the second and currently operational, was launched on March 8, 2022, reaching a 500-kilometer orbit and providing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with low-resolution overhead imagery.
