Why it matters:
The launch highlights Iran’s continued investment in satellite technology for Earth observation, data processing, and commercial applications, an area closely watched because of its technological and geopolitical implications.
Details:
The satellites were launched at 16:48 Tehran time on Sunday, 28 December 2025, from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome and are expected to be injected into low Earth orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers.
The satellites have an expected operational lifespan of between two and five years, which it described as consistent with global standards.
Zoom in:
- Paya satellite incorporates artificial intelligence technology and is equipped with two imaging sensors capable of 5-meter resolution in black and white and 10-meter resolution in color. It also uses mirror-based imaging technology for the first time in Iran, making it the country’s most advanced domestically built imaging satellite to date.
- Zafar 2 is a remote-sensing satellite, featuring an optical imaging camera with a spatial resolution of 15 meters. It is designed for applications such as natural resource monitoring, agriculture, crisis management, and environmental assessment.
- The upgraded Kowsar satellite combines features from the earlier Kowsar and Hodhod satellite designs. It integrates high-precision remote-sensing imaging with an Internet of Things communication module and is intended for uses including Earth monitoring, smart agriculture and commercial space services in Low Earth Orbit.
Go deeper:
Iran Successfully Launches Nahid-2 Communications Satellite
M.Majdi - seyed mohammad kazemi
