| Function | Small-lift space launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps |
| Country of origin | Iran |
| Size | |
| Stages | 3 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO 500 km | |
| Mass | 80 kg |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Qaem |
| Based on | Qased |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | Shahroud space center |
| Total launches | 3 (1 suborbital) |
| Success(es) | 2 (1 suborbital) |
| Failure(s) | 1 |
| First flight | 5 November 2022 |
| Last flight | 20 January 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 | Unnamed IRGC motor |
| Propellant | Solid |
Qaem 100 (also Ghaem 100, Persian: قائم ۱۰۰, from a word meaning "upright")[1] is an Iranian expendable, small-lift, space launch vehicle developed by the Islamic 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 the Nahid telecommunication satellite but failed to put it in orbit.[2][3] In the next launch in 2024, it succeeded in putting the Soraya satellite into 750km orbit, breaking Iran's previous altitude record.[4]
In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, the Qased.[5] Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100.[6] Its first suborbital 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 the Nahid satellite manufactured by the Ministry 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-stage solid-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 the Qased 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 gimballed thrust vector control (TVC) for steering and has a carbon-fiber composite wound casing, which reduces weight compared to traditional casing.[10]
| 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][11] |
| 3 | 20 January 2024 | Shahroud | Soraya | LEO | Success | First successful orbital flight. Satellite placed into 750 km orbit breaking Iran's previous record.[12][13] |
Other Iranian satellite launch vehicles
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