Sunday, January 28, 2024

Iran Reaches Orbit; Chinese Firm Achieves Impressive Landing Test

Iran successfully launched its Qaem 100 rocket into its highest orbit yet, with the satellite reaching an altitude of 750 kilometers (460 miles) above the Earth's surface. The launch is the latest in a program that has raised concerns in the West about Iran's ballistic missile development. The Iranian Soraya satellite was placed in orbit using the three-stage Qaem 100 rocket, according to state-run IRNA news agency.

Meanwhile, Chinese launch startup Landspace has achieved a significant milestone in its development of reusable launch technology, successfully executing a first vertical takeoff and vertical landing with a test article at Jiuquan spaceport. The methane-liquid oxygen test article reached an altitude of around 350 meters during its roughly 60-second flight before setting down in a designated landing area.

The landing had an accuracy of about 2.4 meters and a landing speed of less than 1 meter per second, according to the company.

In other news, the European Space Agency and European Commission have selected five launch companies to participate in a new program aimed at stimulating demand [+]
Image Welcome to Edition 6.28 of the Rocket Report! There's a lot going on in the world of launch as always, but this week I want to take this space for a personal message. I have just announced the forthcoming publication of my second book, REENTRY , on the Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon spacecraft, and development of reusable launch. Full details here . I worked very hard to get the inside story.

No comments:

Post a Comment