Iran's Safir rockets

[blackshire]

Hello All,

This Wikipedia article (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavoshgar-1 ) on Iran's Safir series of sounding rockets and SLVs (Satellite Launch Vehicles) contains several photographs of these rockets as well as several links to more material on them. The Safir-2 SLV, which orbited Iran's Omid satellite on 2 February 2009, had small fins on its first stage, so a scale model of the Safir-2 would be stable with sufficient nose ballast.

Also, the service tower for the Safir-2 has artfully-designed retractable work platforms (including the clamshell-type "white room" that encloses the payload fairing and satellite). Their designs would make for interesting NAR Super Scale contest entries (which include working scale launchers to accompany their scale rockets). Being the product of a culture in which minarets are common examples of architecture, the service tower's appearance suggests that its designer or design team may have been inspired by the aesthetics of minarets (particularly their upper galleries).

I hope this material will be helpful.

[blackshire]

Another Iranian SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) is the Simorgh (see: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_okE2fz_Pef8/S2l-RordUUI/AAAAAAAAB6M/u4-btLkhSR4/s1600-h/img634008007978281250.jpg and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simorgh_(rocket) ). This small SLV appears to have the same first stage as the Safir-2, with a smaller (sub-caliber) upper stage.

[Bill]

I am all for countries pursuing space exploration, even if the technology can be used for sinister purposes.

Now that Iran is on the verge of joining the nuclear club, how likely is it they can come up with a semi-compact atomic warhead which can survive a flight on a missile (both not going bang during launch and being able to go boom at the other end of the parabola?) Making a mass of uranium or plutonium go supercritical is not all that difficult, but making a reliable weapon out of it hopefully remains nontrivial.


Bill

[blackshire]

That's true. A workable nuclear device that can be detonated underground (or atop a tower) and a deliverable ballistic missile nuclear warhead that will survive boost acceleration, the thermal and deceleration stresses of re-entry, and go "bang" when desired are two quite different animals. Having the former does not automatically confer the ability to produce the latter, although the possession of even a crude nuclear device by a rogue state is troubling because it means they're on that road.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Safir-2 is a "hidden-in-plain-sight" ICBM prototype. Its very short payload fairing certainly looks like one to cover a post-boost "bus" and MIRVs--although in fairness, the converted Titan II SLVs also had similar-looking short payload fairings.

In a way, it would be a shame if all of that rocketry R & D work has to be obliterated by us or by the Israelis. If the current Iranian regime could be toppled (hopefully from within, although that's a rather "long shot"), it would be wonderful if a free Iran could enjoy the benefits of this indigenously-developed space technology, both for their own national development and to aid their neighboring countries.