After another failed launch, Iranian minister says “We’re UNSTOPPABLE!”, Ars Technica

A bad day –

“Like many scientific projects, Failure happened.”

/ Replica Iranian missiles are shown alongside the Simorgh rocket, left, on display at the Holy / Sacred Defense Museum, a vast complex that commemorates the s Iran-Iraq War, in Tehran, Iran, on February 3, .

Scott Peterson / Getty Images

A pair of Iranian satellites failed to reach orbit on Sunday after their Simorgh launch vehicle failed to inject them with enough velocity.

“Stage-1 and stage-2 motors of the carrier functioned properly and the satellite was successfully detached from its carrier, but at the end of its path it did not reach the required speed for being put in the orbit, ”Defense Ministry space program spokesman Ahmad Hosseini told state TV, per an AP report .

The Simorgh rocket is a more powerful variant of a small-satellite launch vehicle developed in the country, with a capacity of 532 kg to orbit. It has a terrible track record, however, with at least three failures and no successful orbital missions. Sunday’s launch was intended to help the country celebrate the upcoming February anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

Afterward, one government official speculated as a potential presidential candidate in , Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, sought to paint the mission in a fairer light. “We’re UNSTOPPABLE! We have more Upcoming Great Iranian Satellites!” the minister said via Twitter.

Today “Zafar” satellite launch failed. Like many scientific projects, Failure happened. FALCON 9, Juno II, ATLAS, PROTON M, ANTARES are just a few samples of US launch failures.

But We’re UNSTOPPABLE! We have more Upcoming Great Iranian Satellites! 🛰

– MJ Azari Jahromi (@azarijahromi) (February 9,

Jahromi also called out “US launch failures,” including the Falcon 9, Atlas, Antares rockets and more. Ironically, the Atlas V successfully lifted a European Space Agency Solar Orbiter late Sunday night. Also, Jahromi included the Russian Proton rocket among his list of US failures.

It is not clear why this rocket failed. according to the New York Times , the Central Intelligence Agency has conducted a sabotage program since the George W. Bush administration to slip faulty parts and materials into Iranian aerospace supply chains. This program received new resources under the Trump administration.

For years, the United States and Iran have clashed over the nation’s rocket program. American officials contend the program is part of an effort to develop ballistic missiles that can deliver nuclear weapons to distant foreign targets. The Iranian government says its space program serves peaceful purposes.

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