Iran’s Space Industry Advances Toward New Satellite Era

Pars-2 Earth Observation Nears Launch, 

Shahid Soleimani Constellation Advances

TEHRAN – Iran’s space industry is pressing forward with renewed momentum, as the minister of information and communications technology announces underway plans for the imminent launch of the “Pars 2” satellite and deployment of the “Shahid Soleimani” constellation by the Persian year-end, despite damage inflicted during the recent U.S.-Israeli war of aggression.

Speaking Wednesday at a meeting with experts and managers of the Iranian Space Research Institute, Minister Sattar Hashemi described the space sector as strategically vital, citing its extensive capacities for smart agriculture, water resource management, land management, and data-driven governance. 
Hashemi praised the resilience of Iran’s space infrastructure during wartime conditions, describing the continued operation of satellite services as a significant achievement.
“The continuation of the country’s space activities under difficult conditions is the result of the commitment, expertise, and round-the-clock efforts of colleagues in this field,” Hashemi said.
Hashemi confirmed that “the necessary planning is underway to place the ‘Pars 2’ satellite into orbit.” Pars-2 is an advanced domestically-developed high-precision imaging satellite manufactured by the Iranian Space Agency with the primary mission of Earth observation, remote sensing, and environmental monitoring. The satellite was unveiled last year and is now undergoing final tests ahead of launch.
The minister also stressed that the “Shahid Soleimani” satellite constellation, focusing primarily on telecommunications, will be ready for launch by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 2027). Hashemi described the development of satellite constellations, especially in the field of communications satellites, as “among the country’s priorities.”
Hassan Salarieh, head of the Iranian Space Agency, reaffirmed that space projects are continuing at high speed and rejected claims that the industry had been disrupted by wartime conditions.
“The damage inflicted during the Ramadan War does not mean that our space industry has stopped; the country’s space industry is still operating,” Salarieh stressed.
Salarieh emphasized the distributed nature of Iran’s space infrastructure, explaining that the system is not centralized in a way that would allow it to be halted by targeting a single site. He noted that services such as satellite communication, data reception, and imagery remain fully operational even during wartime conditions.
“Some imagined the space industry was crippled, but that’s not reality,” Salarieh said. “The industry is completely distributed, extensive, and based on indigenous knowledge.”
He explained that numerous companies and universities are working across the sector, and the loss of some buildings or equipment does not represent the totality of Iran’s space capacity. “Knowledge and technology in the country are indigenous and in the hands of specialists in this industry,” he added.
Salarieh also confirmed that communications and data reception from national and domestic satellites remain fully operational, with services provided throughout the war.
Mehdi Mokari, head of the Iranian Space Research Institute, confirmed that no key activities have been halted and that satellite services, including those from the Nahid-2 satellite, continue to operate without interruption.
“Nahid-2 is still providing services to government agencies and various industries,” Mokari said. He added that laboratories are being rebuilt to ensure continued development of domestic satellites.
Mokari detailed the immediate post-attack response, explaining that a crisis management center was activated immediately after the incident. “With rapid debris removal, some vital equipment was extracted, repaired, and restored, and currently laboratories 
are being rebuilt so that the process of developing domestic satellites can continue with full strength,” he said.
Looking ahead, Mokari outlined ambitious plans including the Nahid-3 communications satellite, aimed at geostationary orbit at approximately 36,000 kilometers altitude, making it Iran’s first satellite in geostationary orbit, which will provide continuous coverage for military and civilian purposes. 
He also discussed the Pars-3 remote sensing satellite with imaging precision of one meter or better, representing a significant leap in Iran’s Earth observation capabilities, as well as the development of remote sensing satellite constellations.
Hashemi reaffirmed that Iran is actively pursuing two primary strategies to enhance the resilience and growth of its space sector: deepening technological diplomacy with aligned nations and actively integrating the capabilities of the domestic private sector.
“The development of satellite constellations, especially in the field of communications satellites, is among the country’s priorities,” Hashemi said.
The minister further stressed the importance of identifying new markets for space services. He proposed that energy management, resource management, and other national needs could create new demand for space-based solutions, urging that marketing and commercialization receive serious attention alongside technological development.
Hashemi also called for a unified national roadmap for achieving e-government and data-driven governance, emphasizing that specialized space sector entities must play an effective role in this area.
Mokari highlighted the growing practical applications of Iran’s space program, noting that the institute has signed agreements with various organizations including the Geological Survey to utilize satellite imagery for land subsidence monitoring, flood management, desertification assessment, and mineral exploration.
“These agreements demonstrate the expanding peaceful applications of this industry,” Mokari said.
Ahmad Soleimani, in charge of space services development at the institute, provided further analysis of the attack’s implications. He argued that the enemy had underestimated Iran’s technological maturity by targeting a facility focused on public service delivery.
“We have passed the technology acquisition phase and have now reached the application phase,” Soleimani said. 
“Engineering knowledge has been accumulated in the minds of our specialists; therefore, even if physical laboratories are damaged, we are able to resume the production and restoration of subsystems in the shortest possible time, relying on the confidence points created in other centers.”
Soleimani said that Iran’s space industry “has transformed into a knowledge network that is impossible for the enemy to overcome.”