France 24:

Iran’s defense ministry on Monday said it has test launched a new satellite carrier with its “most powerful” solid-fuel engine to date, state TV reported.

The test was “the first launch of the Zoljanah hybrid satellite carrier for sub-orbital testing”, said Ahmad Hosseini, the spokesman for the ministry’s space division.

“This three-stage carrier can compete with the world’s current carriers, and has two stages of solid propulsion and a single liquid one,” he added, noting that the rocket was for “research purposes”.

According to Hosseini, Zoljanah can put satellites in a “500 kilometer (310 mile) altitude orbit and carry a 220-kilogramme (1,100-pound)” payload.

He also said the rocket can be launched from a “mobile platform”, which provides it with “special capabilities”.

Footage released by the broadcaster showed the rocket being launched in a desert area, without specifying the place and time of the test…

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