Qased (rocket)

The Qased (also Ghased, Persian: قاصد, lit. 'messenger') rocket is an Iranian expendable small-lift orbital space launch vehicle. It made its maiden flight in 2020, lofting Iran's first military satellite named Noor (Persian: نور, lit. 'light') into orbit.^[4][5][6]

Qased

Function	Small-lift space launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Country of origin	Iran
Size
Height	18.6 m (61 ft)[1]
Diameter	1.25 m (4 ft 1 in)[1]
Payload to LEO (500 km)
Mass	10 ~ 80 kg[1]
Stages	3[2]
Associated rockets
Family	Developed into Qaem 100
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Shahroud space center
Total launches	3
Success(es)	3
Failure(s)	0
First flight	22 April 2020
Last flight	27 September 2023
First stage
Diameter	1.25 m[3]
Powered by	Ghadr
Maximum thrust	~ 30,000 kilograms-force (290,000 N; 66,000 lbf)
Burn time	103 seconds
Propellant	UDMH/N2O4
Second stage
Diameter	1 m
Powered by	Salman
Burn time	60 seconds
Propellant	solid
Third stage
Diameter	1 m
Powered by	Unnamed IRGC motor
Propellant	solid

Design

Qased is a three-stage rocket. Its first stage is propelled by a Ghadr medium range ballistic missile with a diameter of 1.25 meters (4 ft 1 in), burning UDMH and N₂O₄ for 103 seconds and an approximate thrust of 30,000 kilograms-force (290 kN; 66,000 lbf). However, Qased's application of the proven Ghadr as its first stage is limited to the first launches, and subsequent launches are to utilize a solid-fueled first stage. The 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) diameter second stage is the solid fueled Salman with a lightweight carbon fiber composite casing, a flexible nozzle with thrust vectoring capability, and a burn time of 60 seconds. The third stage was erroneously believed to be a Saman-1 upper stage with an Arash-24 solid fuel motor with a burn time of 40 seconds.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Strategic implications

The launcher is notable as it is operated by the IRGC Air Force rather than the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) and is small enough to be launched from a transporter erector launcher.^[3] The launch unveiled a full-blown parallel military space program separate from the ISA, with separate development paths and solid fueled launch vehicles, as opposed to the ISA's liquid fueled rockets.^[7][8]

In terms of the Noor satellite itself, the launch does not fundamentally change the security equations in the Middle East; however, the unveiling of the IRGC space program and its emphasis towards solid fueled launch vehicles (which are more military viable than Iran's previous liquid fueled launchers like the Simorgh) might indicate Iran's hedging strategy to acquire ICBM technology without the security repercussions of openly attempting to do so.^[11]

Launch history

Flight No.	Date & time (UTC)	Payload	Type	Outcome	Remarks
1	22 April 2020, 04:00	Noor	Reconnaissance Satellite	Success	444 x 426 km orbit, 59.8 degree inclination[3]
2	8 March 2022, 05:06	Noor 2	Reconnaissance Satellite	Success	495 x 513 km orbit, 58.3 degree inclination[12][13]
3	27 September 2023, 06:00	Noor 3	Reconnaissance Satellite	Success	442 x 456 km orbit, 60.0 degree inclination[14]

Gallery

• 
  Qased during preparations on the launch pad
• 
  Qased lifting off

See also

• IRGC Aerospace Force
• Salman (rocket stage)
• Noor (satellite)
• Shahroud Space Center

Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles

• Safir (rocket)

• Simorgh (rocket)
• Zuljanah (rocket)
• Qaem-100 (rocket)

External links

• Manley, Scott (26 April 2020). "Decoding Iran's New 'Qased' Rocket and the 'Noor' Satellite". Scott Manley.
• First launch video - "Qased launches Noor satellite". SciNews. 22 April 2020. A Qased launch vehicle launched the Noor satellite from Iran, on 22 April 2020. According to official sources, Qased (قاصد) is a "three-stage, solid-propellant launcher" and the Noor ( نور) satellite was placed in a 425-km orbit.