Saman-1 (rocket stage)

The Saman-1 (Persian: سامان-۱) is a space tug in development by the Iranian Space Research Center to be used to transfer satellites from a 400 km orbit to higher orbits.[1] The system was unveiled on February 1, 2017, by Iranian president Hassan Rouhani in a ceremony marking the Iranian national space technology day.[2][3]

Saman-1 upper-stage
Saman-1 upper-stage
ManufacturerIranian Space Research Center
Country of origin Iran
Used onSimorgh (in future)
Qased (possibly)
General characteristics
Gross mass240 kg (530 lb)
Propellant mass185 kg (408 lb)
Empty mass55 kg (121 lb)
Arash-24
Maximum thrust13 kN (2,900 lbf)
Burn time40 seconds
Associated stages
ComparableStar 24
Launch history
StatusIn development

It could be used as a third stage/kick-motor on the Simorgh launch vehicle.[4] Although very little information has been publicly revealed about the Qased launch vehicle's solid fueled third stage, analysts have concluded that it may uses the Saman-1 as its third stage or something similar.[5][6]

Design

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The saman-1 utilizes an Arash-24 solid fuel motor as its main propulsion unit, producing 1.3 tons of thrust with a burn time of 40 seconds and a total mass of 240 kg fully fueled and 55 kg when empty.[7][8]

Saman-1 is capable of transferring satellites from a 400 km orbit to a 7,000 km orbit.[9][10] For its first mission it will be tasked with lifting a 100 kilogram satellite from a 400 kilometer circular parking orbit to an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 700 kilometers and a perigee of 400 kilometers.[10][11][12] After the first and second stage burn are done the launch vehicle releases the payload and the Saman-1 third stage into a parking orbit, then the Saman-1 becomes responsible for stabilization and elimination of vibrations after release and finally the accurate injection of its payload into its target orbit.[13][14]

Several new sub-systems were designed and manufactured for the Saman-1, these include: a complete and independent navigation and control system, a solid-fueled propulsion system (made out of titanium to reduce weight), cold gas thrusters, a power system, and a flight computer.[13][14][15]

Future versions

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Saman-2 will be able to transfer satellites from a 400 km orbit (LEO) to a 10,000 km orbit; Saman-3 up to 21,000 km; Saman-4 up to 36,000 km (geostationary and geosynchronous orbits).[9][16]

History

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Saman-1 development began in 2015. The first prototype was unveiled on February 1, 2017, by President Hassan Rouhani. The second prototype was being tested in December 2018.[17][2][3] In December 2019, the first sample of the Arash motor was tested successfully in vacuum conditions.[18] A suborbital test flight of Saman-1 occurred in June 2021 and was reported to be successful.[19] A second successful suborbital test took place on 3 October 2022.[20] Operational test flight of the system is planned for 2022–2023.[16]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "پژوهشگاه فضایی ایران | Orbital transmission system (Saman 1)". www.isrc.ac.ir. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  2. ^ a b "Iran unveils Interorbital System". IRNA English. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  3. ^ a b "Payam-e Amirkabir, Nahid 1 satellites, Saman orbital transfer system unveiled by President". www.president.ir. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  4. ^ "Simorgh". www.astronautix.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  5. ^ "The IRGC gets into the space-launch business". IISS. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  6. ^ "Iran Launched Its First Military Satellite by MatthewGreenwood". Engineering.com. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  7. ^ "Safir Data Sheet". www.spacelaunchreport.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved 2021-04-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ "Simorgh Saman-1 kick-stage". www.b14643.de. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  9. ^ a b "طراحی ماهواره سامان ۲ شروع شده است". خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران (in Persian). 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  10. ^ a b "جهش مداری ماهوارههای بومی با سامانه "سامان-۱"/نصب موتورهای کنترل وضعیت در "ناهید-۲" و "پارس-۱"". ایسنا (in Persian). 2020-02-08. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  11. ^ "Iran's Space Program". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  12. ^ "Iran completes construction of Nahid-2 satellite". Mehr News Agency. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-04-10.
  13. ^ a b "جهش مداری ماهوارههای بومی با سامانه "سامان-۱"/نصب موتورهای کنترل وضعیت در "ناهید-۲" و "پارس-۱"". ایسنا (in Persian). 2020-02-08. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  14. ^ a b "جهش مداری ماهوارههای ایرانی با سامانه "سامان"/ حالا میتوان به ارتفاع ۷۰۰ کیلومتری از سطح زمین رسید +عکس". پایگاه اطلاع رسانی سپاس (in Persian). 2017-02-02. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  15. ^ "297-موتور فضایی آرش". ایران پلتفرم - دستاوردهای جمهوری اسلامی ایران (in Persian). 2020-12-16. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  16. ^ a b "سامانه انتقال مداری سال آینده تست عملیاتی میشود". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 2021-11-26. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  17. ^ "ساخت سامانه انتقال مداری در پژوهشگاه فضایی ایران در دست اجرا است". وزارت ارتباطات و فناوری اطلاعات (in Persian). 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  18. ^ "نخستین نمونه از خانواده موتور فضایی ایرانی آرش با موفقیت تست شد | خبرگزاری فارس". www.farsnews.ir. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  19. ^ "انجام اولین آزمون زیرمداری سامانه انتقال مداری/آزمون زیرمداری دوم در برنامه بعدی پژوهشگاه فضایی". ایسنا (in Persian). 2021-06-27. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  20. ^ "Iran says it launched test 'tug' into suborbital space". Washington Post. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.