Qaem 100 (also Ghaem 100, Persian: قائم ۱۰۰, from a word meaning "upright")[1] is an Iranian expendable, small-lift, space launch vehicle developed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 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.[2][3] In the next launch in 2024, it succeeded in putting the Soraya satellite into 750km orbit, breaking Iran's previous altitude record.[4]
Development history
In 2020, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps successfully launched its first rocket, the Qased.[5] Experience acquired through the Qased's development allowed the IRGC to develop the Qaem 100.[6] Its first suborbital test flight has been successfully carried out on 5 November 2022.[7][3] 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.[3] 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 36,000km GEO orbit.[6]
Qaem 100 is the first three-stage solid-fueled rocket manufactured by Iran.[8] It will be able to put a satellite weighing 80kg (180lb) into a 500 kilometres (310 miles)LEO.[9][3] This is twice the payload that the Qased rocket can lift while the two missiles weigh the same.[6]
The first stage is the Rafe motor that successfully passed its static ground test in January 2022.[3][10] Rafe is able to produce 68 tonnes-force (670kN; 150,000lbf) of thrust. It uses gimballed thrust vector control (TVC) for steering and has a carbon-fiber compositefilament-wound casing, which reduces weight compared to traditional casing.[10] it utilizes Vahab motor as its third stage.[11]
This template lists historical, current, and future space rockets that at least once attempted (but not necessarily succeeded in) an orbital launch or that are planned to attempt such a launch in the future
Symbol † indicates past or current rockets that attempted orbital launches but never succeeded (never did or has yet to perform a successful orbital launch)
