 | |
| Function | Small-lift space launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Size | |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload toLEO 500 km | |
| Mass | 80 kg |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Qaem |
| Based on | Qased |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Shahroud space center |
| Total launches | 4 (1 suborbital) |
| Success(es) | 3 (1 suborbital) |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 5 November 2022 |
| Last flight | 14 September 2024 |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | Rafe motor |
| Maximum thrust | 68,000 kilograms-force (670,000 N; 150,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Second stage | |
| Diameter | 1 m |
| Powered by | Salman motor |
| Burn time | 60 seconds |
| Propellant | Solid |
| Third stage | |
| Diameter | 1 m |
| Powered by | Vahab motor |
| Propellant | Solid |
Qaem 100 (alsoGhaem 100,Persian:قائم ۱۰۰, from a word meaning "upright")[1] is an Iranianexpendable,small-lift,space launch vehicle developed by theIslamic 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 theNahid telecommunication satellite but failed to put it in orbit.[2][3] In the next launch in 2024, it succeeded in putting theSoraya satellite into 750 km orbit, breaking Iran's previous altitude record.[4]
In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, theQased.[5] Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100.[6] Its firstsuborbital test flight has been successfully carried out on 5 November 2022.[7][3] The IRGC then announced Qaem 100 will "soon" be used to launch theNahid satellite manufactured by theMinistry 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 kmGEO orbit.[6]
Qaem 100 is the first three-stagesolid-fueled rocket manufactured by Iran.[8] It will be able to put a satellite weighing 80 kg (180 lb) into a 500 kilometres (310 miles)LEO.[9][3] This is twice the payload that theQased rocket can lift while the two rockets weigh the same.[6]
The first stage is the Rafe motor that successfully passed its static ground test in January 2022.[3][10] Rafe is able to produce 68 tonnes-force (670 kN; 150,000 lbf) of thrust. It uses gimballedthrust vector control (TVC) for steering and has acarbon-fiber compositefilament-wound casing, which reduces weight compared to traditional casing.[10] it utilizes Vahab motor as its third stage.[11]
| Flight No. | Date (UTC) | Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Outcome | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 November 2022 | Shahroud | N/A | Suborbital | Success | Test flight[3] |
| 2 | 4 March 2023 | Shahroud | Nahid-1 | LEO | Failure | Maiden orbital flight[2][12] |
| 3 | 20 January 2024 | Shahroud | Soraya | LEO | Success | First successful orbital flight. Satellite placed into 750 km orbit breaking Iran's previous record.[13][14] |
| 4 | 14 September 2024 | Shahroud | Chamran-1 | LEO | Success | Proof of Repeatability[15] |
Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles