Qaem 100

Qaem 100 (also Ghaem 100, Persian: قائم ۱۰۰, from a word meaning "upright")[1] is an Iranian expendable, small-lift, space launch vehicle in development by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It was unveiled on 5 November 2022 and is the first rocket of the Qaem family. After a successful suborbital test flight in 2022, the rocket performed its orbital maiden flight in 2023 carrying the Nahid telecommunication satellite but failed to put it in orbit.[2][3]

Qaem 100
FunctionSmall-lift space launch vehicle
ManufacturerIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Country of originIran
Size
Stages3
Capacity
Payload to LEO 500 km
Mass80 kg
Associated rockets
FamilyQaem
Based onQased
Launch history
StatusIn development
Launch sitesShahroud space center
Total launches2 (1 suborbital)
Success(es)0 (1 suborbital)
Failure(s)1
First flight5 November 2022
Last flight4 March 2023
First stage
Powered byRafe motor
Maximum thrust68,000 kilograms-force (670,000 N; 150,000 lbf)
PropellantSolid
Second stage
Diameter1 m
Powered bySalman motor
Burn time60 seconds
PropellantSolid
Third stage
Diameter1 m
Powered byUnnamed IRGC motor
PropellantSolid

Development history

In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, the Qased.[4] Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100.[5] Its first suborbital test flight has been successfully carried out on 5 November 2022.[6][3] The IRGC then announced Qaem 100 will "soon" be used to launch the Nahid satellite manufactured by the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Iran.[3] The Qaem 100 is planned to be followed by other Qaem rockets including the Qaem 105, Qaem 110 and Qaem 120, which will ultimately allow Iran to put satellites into the 36,000 km GEO orbit.[5]

Design

Qaem 100 is the first three-stage solid-fueled rocket manufactured by Iran.[7] It will be able to put a satellite weighing 80 kg (180 lb) into a 500 kilometres (310 miles) LEO.[8][3] This is twice the payload that the Qased rocket can lift while the two rockets weigh the same.[5]

The first stage is the Rafe motor that successfully passed its static ground test in January 2022.[3][9] Rafe is able to produce 68 tonnes-force (670 kN; 150,000 lbf) of thrust. It uses gimballed thrust vector control (TVC) for steering and has a wound carbon-fiber composite casing reducing weight compared to traditional casing.[9]

Launch history
Flight No. Date (UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Outcome Remarks
1 5 November 2022 Shahroud N/A LEO Success Suborbital test flight[3]
2 4 March 2023 Shahroud Nahid-1 LEO Failure Maiden orbital flight[2]

See also

Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles

References
  1. Rastrow, A. A. (21 December 2002). Rahnama Turkish-English-Persian Dictionary. Alhoda UK. ISBN 9789646054707 – via Google Books.
  2. "Identical letters dated 28 April 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council" (PDF). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. "پرتاب موفقیت‌آمیز زیرمداری ماهواره‌بر قائم 100- اخبار نظامی | دفاعی | امنیتی – اخبار سیاسی تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  4. Bizaer, Maysam. "Iran satellite launch 'sends a message' on failed US pressure". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  5. "سردار جعفرآبادی: "قائم 100" اولین پله از نقشه راه سپاه در توسعه سری ماهواره‌برهای قائم است". پایگاه خبری تحلیلی فردا | Farda News (in Persian). Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  6. "Iran test launches new satellite-carrying rocket". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  7. "Launch of Qaem satellite-carrying rocket made foes angry, delirious: diplomat". Tehran Times. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  8. "Iran Revolutionary Guard launches satellite-carrying rocket". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  9. "سپاه با "رافع" به باشگاه سازندگان ماهواره‌بر سوخت جامد پیوست/ نقش تدبیر رهبر انقلاب درباره "الیاف کربن" در ارتقاء صنعت فضایی کشور +عکس و فیلم". مشرق نیوز (in Persian). 16 January 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
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