E.g. https://www.irna.ir/news/84595985/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%BA
Hosseini, stating that in this launch, telemetry data from the launch process was completely counted, added: "By matching the data and matching the functions, the necessary planning will be done for the operational launch."
Launch time 04:00 UTC https://twitter.com/KianSharifi/status/1476620297906307080?t=edEjUgRQ1sbsPBUwl64ULw&s=19Also, given three satellites, highly unlikely to be a test rather than just a failure.--- Tony
Quote from: jebbo on 12/30/2021 08:52 amE.g. https://www.irna.ir/news/84595985/%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D9%85%D9%88%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D9%82%DB%8C%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%BAQuoteHosseini, stating that in this launch, telemetry data from the launch process was completely counted, added: "By matching the data and matching the functions, the necessary planning will be done for the operational launch."Besides a failed orbital flight, it could also be a real test flight, it is something quite common (Soyuz-2, Angara, Proton, Kuaizhou made one). What is stranger is that usually these test flights are made at the beginning of the career of the launchers, but considering that Simorgh never succeeded in any orbital flight...
If Iran says it was only a "preliminary test" and that "The intended research objectives of this launch were achieved", is there any evidence that this was an actual orbital attempt?https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-sends-3-research-payloads-into-space-tasnim-2021-12-30/"Iranian defence ministry spokesman Ahmad Hosseini said the Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite carrier rocket had launched the three research devices at an altitude of 470 km (290 miles) and at a speed of 7,350 metres per second."The intended research objectives of this launch were achieved," Hosseini told state television. "This was done as a preliminary launch ... God willing, we will have an operational launch soon."" - Ed Kyle
If Iran says it was only a "preliminary test" and that "The intended research objectives of this launch were achieved", is there any evidence that this was an actual orbital attempt?
A real test flight would not normally stop 300m/s of orbit without a good reason. (Admittedly the initial Soyuz-2 flightis an exception, but I think it was testing the Fregat insertion conditions)
To achieve orbit, Iranians would have to put three really small satellites on Simurgh, e.g. 30 kg each. I don't know such projects and don't see value in such a launch.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 12/30/2021 10:17 pmIf Iran says it was only a "preliminary test" and that "The intended research objectives of this launch were achieved", is there any evidence that this was an actual orbital attempt?Iran previously made the same claim about the 2017 Simorgh launch, but this is generally held to have been a failed orbital launch - indeed you classify it as such in your launch listings. So given that they have made this claim before I don't think we can take it at face value this time without assessing the evidence for and against each of the possibilities.As I see it, there are four likely scenarios:1. A successful suborbital launch with three payloads, carrying these payloads is the primary objective2. A successful test of Simorgh with three suborbital payloads carried as a secondary objective3. An unsuccessful orbital test launch, with three suborbital payloads carried as a secondary objective4. An unsuccessful orbital launch with three satellitesScenario 1 doesn't really make sense because of the rocket's trajectory. There aren't many good reasons for a suborbital research flight to be boosted so close to orbital velocity, so if carrying out these experiments was the flight's goal, they could have been flown on a more typical suborbital profile with a sounding rocket rather than having to use an unreliable orbital-class rocket like Simorgh.Scenario 2, again, doesn't make sense. To reach the trajectory that it did, this must have been a full three-stage Simorgh rather than the two-stage version they used in the 2016 test (and launch photos appear to bear this out). Normally when orbital rockets fly suborbital tests it is because they are flying with one or more stages either missing or inert. If they are launching the full rocket anyway, and getting it that close to orbit, what do they gain by stopping it short rather than going all the way? In contrast if the mission had been allowed to continue to orbit additional data about third stage performance in the final seconds of flight could have been obtained, and Iran would be able to announce that Simorgh had finally reached orbit.Scenario 3 is a bit contrived, but would allow some degree of success to be claimed for a launch that otherwise failed. Like in scenario 2, the research payloads are being carried aboard Simorgh because the rocket was going up anyway and there was space on it, but unlike scenario 4 it doesn't matter to the payloads whether the rocket reached orbit or not, as they just needed to get to space and send back data. But the rocket's primary mission was still to get to orbit, and that failed regardless of the secondary objectives.Based on this, unless further evidence comes to light I consider scenario 4, a straight-up failure, to be by far the most likely and therefore the launch is a failure. Scenario 3 is still a failure, and for me scenarios 1 and 2 leave too many questions unanswered.
