The Kowsar and Hodhod Satellites Are Set to be Launched on Russia’s Soyuz Rocket

The two privately developed Iranian satellites, Kowsar and Hodhod, were sent to Russia on October 11 for their scheduled launch into space on November 5. This mission marks Iran's private space industry’s first foray into satellite manufacturing and launch, a significant milestone for the country's aerospace goals.

Kowsar, a high-resolution remote-sensing satellite, is designed for precision agriculture, natural resource monitoring, environmental assessment, and disaster response. Developed since 2019, it provides high-quality imagery to track environmental changes, identify disaster zones, and support sustainable development planning. Hodhod, built in a year using advanced technology from Kowsar, is a compact communications satellite aimed at enhancing IoT connectivity and providing telecommunication services in remote regions.

Developed by a team of young Iranian engineers with an average age of 25, these satellites represent a major achievement for Iran’s private tech sector. Kowsar offers versatile applications in resource management, while Hodhod is designed to enable communication networks and IoT in underserved areas, showcasing adaptability and innovation in Iran’s satellite technology.