In an interview with Tasnim, Hassan Salariyeh said the first phase involves developing a satellite such as Nahid-3, equipped with advanced technologies for attitude control, communications, and positioning at high altitudes.
He said the second phase focuses on designing and building orbital transfer vehicles powered initially by liquid-fuel propulsion and later by cryogenic engines. According to Salariyeh, these vehicles will not only transfer satellites into geostationary orbit (GEO) but will also serve as the country's core infrastructure for deploying satellite constellations and conducting multi-satellite launches.
The third phase, he said, is the development of heavy-lift launch vehicles, including the Qaem-120 and Phoenix (Qoqnoos) launchers, capable of placing satellites and orbital transfer vehicles into parking orbit before they are transferred to higher orbits.
Salariyeh noted that, under the division of responsibilities between the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the Aerospace Industries Organization, work on all three phases is progressing simultaneously.