Qaem 100


Qaem 100 is an Iranian expendable, small-lift, space launch vehicle developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 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. In the next launch in 2024, it succeeded in putting the Soraya satellite into 750 km orbit, breaking Iran's previous altitude record.

Development history

In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, the Qased. Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100. Its first suborbital test flight has been successfully carried out on 5 November 2022. 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. 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 km GEO orbit.

Design

Qaem 100 is the first three-stage solid-fueled rocket manufactured by Iran. It will be able to put a satellite weighing into a LEO. This is twice the payload that the Qased rocket can lift while the two missiles weigh the same.
The first stage is the Rafe motor that successfully passed its static ground test in January 2022. Rafe is able to produce of thrust. It uses gimballed thrust vector control for steering and has a carbon-fiber composite filament-wound casing, which reduces weight compared to traditional casing. it utilizes Vahab motor as its third stage.

Launch history

Flight No.Date Launch sitePayloadOrbitOutcomeRemarks
15 November 2022ShahroudN/ASuborbitalTest flight
24 March 2023ShahroudNahid-1LEOMaiden orbital flight
320 January 2024ShahroudSorayaLEOFirst successful orbital flight. Satellite placed into 750 km orbit breaking Iran's previous record.
414 September 2024ShahroudChamran-1LEOProof of Repeatability