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Satellite photos suggest Iran had a launch failure with rocket explosion on launchpad

Based on new satellite photos, it appears that an attempt by Iran to launch a satellite failed this week when the rocket exploded on the launchpad.

Before and after images taken by imagery satellites from two different private companies, Maxar and Planet Labs, suggest the incident likely occurred around February 26th.

Satellite images from Maxar Technologies seen by The Associated Press show scorch marks at a launchpad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran’s rural Semnan province on Sunday. A rocket stand on the pad appears scorched and damaged, with vehicles surrounding it. An object, possibly part of the gantry, sits near it.

Successful launches typically don’t damage rocket gantries because they are lowered prior to takeoff. Iran also usually immediately trumpets launches that reach space on its state-run television channels, and it has a history of not acknowledging failed attempts.

The news reports claims that the failed rocket was Iran’s Zuljanah rocket, which uses solid rocket motors for its lower stages. Zuljanah has never made orbit, having been unveiled one year ago after a single suborbital test flight.

Genesis cover

On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.

 
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.


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"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News

4 comments

  • Cotour

    If you are unable to precisely and accurately paint circles around your launch pad, you probably are not yet qualified and should not be monkeying around building satellites and rockets and trying to launch them into space.

    Master the basics first.

  • Alton

    Wait Wait ……. Waiting !

    Obama allowed the Sale and Transfer of technology to Red China for satellite ? launches (ICBM applicable) by a Democrat Doner Company……
    Olde Joe (The Great American Wonder) IS reportedly in the final stages of a New agreement with Iran. (Negotiated by Russia). Passing Billions to The Theocracy and now launching capability also ??

  • Cotour

    You would think that if you were launching rockets in order to install satellites into orbit, you would start with being able to paint precise and accurate circles around your launch pad.

    Not a good indicator.

  • Jeff Wright

    Joe must have helped them design it…at Lake Oswego.

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