Iran developing Chabahar space center for heavier liquid-fuel rockets

Iran has started the second phase of construction at its Chabahar space launch facility, which will be dedicated to launching heavier semi-heavy liquid-fueled rockets, the Iranian Space Agency announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) affiliated Tasnim, the head of the country’s space agency said that the first phase of the space launch site, focused on solid-fuel rockets, is expected to become operational this year.

Hassan Salarieh said the second phase, now underway with the groundbreaking, follows extensive studies and the preparation of necessary contracts.

He emphasized the strategic importance of the Chabahar facility, located in southeastern Iran, noting its potential to become Iran's "space gateway" for accessing international markets due to its geographical advantages for launching satellites into various orbits, including sun-synchronous and geostationary orbits.

Chabahar’s proximity to open waters and the equator offers benefits in terms of launch efficiency and fuel consumption.

The development of the Chabahar Space Center is a key component of Iran's ten-year space program.

While Iran asserts its space program is for scientific advancement, it acknowledges the dual-use nature of its technologies, which have raised concerns in Western countries, particularly the United States, due to their potential link to the development of long-range ballistic missiles.

Despite international scrutiny and technical challenges, Iran says it has been steadily advancing its space capabilities, with the Chabahar facility poised to become its primary launch site, surpassing existing centers like the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Semnan province.

President Masoud Pezeshkian recently stated that Iran's space and missile technologies serve a deterrent purpose, while Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh has linked the ballistic missile program to the country's satellite launch efforts, highlighting plans to potentially offer launch services to friendly nations.