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Semnan Space Center (
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
:) is the primary Iranian
spaceport A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of ...
, located 50 km southeast of the city of Semnan in the north of the country.


History

Media attention on the space center began when Iranian authorities announced their intent to launch an artificial satellite within weeks on 16 August 2008. On 17 August 2008, Iran proceeded, as preannounced, with the second test launch of a three stage Safir SLV from a site south of Semnan in the northern part of the Dasht-e-Kavir desert. Reza Taghizadeh, head of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, told state television "The Safir (Ambassador) satellite carrier was launched today and for the first time we successfully launched a dummy satellite into orbit". As reported in late 2009 and early 2010, a new, larger launch pad was under construction at .


Launch sites


Circular launch platform

The Circular Launch Platform is the oldest launch pad and also recognizable by the light blue background with the original logo of the Iran Space Agency (ISA).The platform has a simplified character and consists of a leveled terrain with a circular asphalted section of a diameter of 65 m, at the center of which is a service tower. File:2019-08-29 Safir launch failure.jpg, Circular Launch Platform after a launch failure. File:Safir space launch vehicle carrying Fajr satellite 11.jpg, Safir rocket on the Circular Launch Platform. File:Safir space launch vehicle carrying Fajr satellite 10.jpg, Safir rocket on the Circular Launch Platform.


Main Launch Platform

The Main Launch Platform ( Imam Khomeini Space Launch Terminal) is located at the east of the complex on a specially enclosed octagonal area measuring 900 x 660 m and covering an area of 51.4 ha, representing the largest single element of the new space center. The units are accessed by a road from the northwest, which is within the perimeter of the three rays and forms two main inner zones – almost completely built lower and newly initiated upper (state of 2015). The lower zone consists of spacious launching platforms with towers and four larger compartments for installation and storage. File:Simorgh Launch Pad at Imam Khomeini Space Center.png, An axonometric sketch of the Main Launch Platform, left to right:
- fuel tank (piped drains)
- launch ramp with Simorgh
- auxiliary service facilities. File:سیمرغ - افتتاح پایگاه ملی فضایی امام خمینی(ره) (1).jpg, Simorgh launching from Main Launch Platform, 2017. File:Simorgh Payam launch FARS 06.jpg, Simorgh launcher with the Payam satellite at Main Launch Platform, 2019 File:Simorgh Payam launch 07.jpg, Simorgh launching from the Main Launch Platform, 2019.


Launch history


References

{{Spaceport Rocket launch sites in Iran Space program of Iran Spaceports in Asia