Launch of the "Tolou 3" Satellite: Iran's Trump Card in the Space Battle with Global Competitors

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Aerospace capabilities are one of the important requirements for achieving power and gaining high positions in the global arena, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to perform well in this area.

Building and launching satellites into space is a capability that only a few countries in the world have, and Iran has taken great strides in building military and civilian satellites and launching them in recent years. The "Tolou 3" satellite is one of the satellites that the Islamic Republic of Iran is going to put into orbit soon in cooperation with Russia, and a large part of the construction of this satellite was carried out with the help of Iranian experts.

Specifications of the Tolou 3 (Paya) Satellite

With a mass of about 150 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 1.2*1*1 meters, this satellite is classified as a mini-satellite of the Iran Electronic Industry Company and is the heaviest indigenous satellite of Iran that has been launched so far.

The Paya (Tolou 3) satellite has two imaging sensors with a resolution of 5 meters in black and white and 10 meters in color, and due to the use of processing algorithms based on artificial intelligence, the accuracy of the images received by the satellite reaches three meters. For the first time in the country, mirror imaging technology has been used in this satellite, and on this basis, it is considered the most advanced indigenously built imaging satellite.

The operation of the Paya (Tolou 3) satellite is completely upgraded and distinguished from the previously launched satellites (all of which were in the nanosatellite and microsatellite class) in terms of image quality, imaging duration, imaging area size, and the rate of sending received images to the Earth. Using space propulsion subsystems (similar to the Chamran 1 satellite), this satellite can correct and maneuver orbits in space, which is a requirement for operational satellites and guarantees an orbital life of at least three years for the satellite; also, more than 80 percent of the equipment and subsystems of this satellite are indigenous and have been developed by utilizing the capabilities of the country's knowledge-based and private sectors.

Studies and assessments show that the technologies developed during the construction process of the Paya satellite (Tolou 3) will lead to the achievement of a common platform with high reliability for future more accurate imaging satellites; this satellite is used in areas such as agriculture and farm monitoring, water resources management, monitoring of natural hazards such as floods and droughts, and environmental mapping and monitoring. The Paya satellite has an imaging accuracy of about 10-20 meters per pixel and can be used for natural resource management operations, environmental and agricultural monitoring, and data-driven scientific and practical applications.

Head of the space group of the Electronic Industries Company and manager of the Tolou 3 project, Moharram Ghiyathvand, says in this regard: "A mini-satellite platform will be used to send this satellite into orbit. Previously, Iran had mainly used nano-satellite and micro-satellite platforms, whose use was limited to research or semi-applied missions; but the mini-satellite platform will enable operational missions; this satellite is also supposed to perform imaging below five meters, but by using artificial intelligence algorithms, the accuracy of the received images will reach three meters.

He adds: For the first time, this satellite has used mirror telescope technology instead of a lens camera to enable high imaging accuracy; this satellite also can adjust its altitude in orbit and can increase its altitude with an internal propulsion system to maintain its useful life for up to three years; Also, the data rate sent from this satellite to Earth is 10 times higher than previous satellites.

What message does the launch of the Tolou 3 satellite send to the world at this time?

The Tolou 3 satellite will soon be in orbit at a time when the enemies of Islamic Republic of Iran have repeatedly prohibited Iran from conducting aerospace tests and peaceful nuclear energy. US President Donald Trump has said in this regard with sarcastic language: They (the Iranians) have oil and do not need nuclear energy.

As we know, the missile and aerospace industries are related and dependent on each other, and the lack of missile capabilities will definitely limit the capabilities of the aerospace industry; the missile industry can also ultimately lead to the launch of satellites that can be helpful in civilian affairs and fields such as land imaging; Therefore, the United States seeks to destroy this entire industry like the nuclear industry (which it seeks to destroy); but the launch of this satellite at this time shows that Iran will not abandon its aerospace industry and will take steps to expand this industry in various fields; a point that has been repeatedly mentioned by senior officials of Iran.

In the Asian continent, countries that have an anti-imperialist outlook, such as North Korea, are seeking to develop the missile industry and launch satellites into space; for example, the North Korean army has prepared the ground for launching satellites into space in recent years by building and developing powerful Taepodong missiles. Marco Langbroek, a space science researcher at the University of Technology in the Netherlands, reported in 2023 that North Korea's first spy satellite was active and moving.

In 2021, the North Korean military successfully launched its first reconnaissance satellite into Earth orbit, and the satellite successfully entered Earth orbit after a short period of time (less than 15 minutes); North Korea described this spy satellite as marking the country's "new era of space power." Therefore, every country has the right to use its aerospace capabilities for its own interests.

In summary, it can be said that the simultaneous launch of three indigenous satellites into space, including the Tolou 3 satellite, is a demonstration of the Iranians' authority, capability, and hope for a bright future that will pave the way for our country to achieve global scientific authority.