Iranian Regime’s Rocket Launch Ends In Failure, Imagery Shows

Written by Amir Taghati .

Satellite images show that an Iranian rocket appears to have exploded on the launch pad Thursday.

The satellite pictures were taken Thursday morning of the regime’s Imam Khomeini Space Center in Iran’s Semnan Province.

The photos show black smoke and part of a painted launch pad apparently scorched away, the Associated Press reported.

David Schmerler, a senior research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, told The Associated Press: “Whatever happened there, it blew up and you’re looking at the smoldering remains of what used to be there.”

NPR first reported on the satellite images.

The failure is the third by the Iranian regime this year. In January and February, the regime attempted to launch two rockets, both of which failed to reach orbit.

The exact type of rocket that failed Thursday is unclear, but the circular pad had previously been used to launch a type of two-staged, liquid-fueled rocket known as the Safir.

The Iranian regime was to launch the Nahid-1 satellite in the coming days. There had been activity at the space center in recent days.

Based in part on wire reports

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