On February 2, 2009, at 18:34 UTC, a thunderous roar echoed from the Semnan Space Center in Iran’s desert heartland.
The Safir-2 rocket — a two-stage marvel born from domestic ingenuity — pierced the twilight sky, carrying Omid, meaning “Hope” in Persian.
This wasn’t a borrowed ride from a foreign ally. This was Iran’s first satellite, built and launched by Iranian hands.
In that moment, Iran achieved space independence.
The Mission: A Cube of Ambition
Omid was a compact technology demonstrator, a 40 cm cube weighing just 27 kg, orbiting at 55.5° inclination with a perigee of 245 km and apogee of 378 km.
Its payload? Simple yet profound:
- Store-and-Forward Telecom: Relaying data from remote sensors
- Experimental Controls: Attitude systems and power management
- Space Environment Sensors: GPS receiver adapted for unstabilized ops
Remote Sensing: Basic imaging for research
Spec Detail Mass 27 kg Orbit 245–378 km LEO (55.5° inclination) Launcher Safir-2 (indigenous, ~26 tons) Lifespan ~2 months (re-entered April 25, 2009) Cost Classified (est. $10–20 million)
Launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Omid circled Earth, beaming signals that any radio enthusiast could catch.
Why It Mattered
Omid flipped the script: fully domestic satellite on a homegrown launcher.
- Made Iran the top 10 sovereign space power (joining US, Russia, and China - others are not independent.)
- Demonstrated self-reliance — no foreign engines, no imported stages
"Omid was Iran’s declaration: We build our own path to the cosmos." — ISA Engineer, 2010
2009: The Echoes of Hope
- Safir Successors: Launched Rasad-1 (2011), Sharad (2012), Fajr (2013)
- Bigger Leaps: Simorgh heavy-lifters (2016+), Qaem-100 solids, and lunar dreams like the 2023 bio-capsule
- Modern Fleet: Light (Noor) military sats (2020), Khayyam (2022), and constellation plans for telecom & disaster monitoring
Today, Iran eyes reusable rockets and deep-space probes, all seeded by Omid’s spark.
Justice in Orbit: Omid’s Universal Lesson
At Our Milky Way Galaxy, Omid embodies our creed: Space is for sovereign dreamers everywhere.
That’s the blueprint for lunar justice, asteroid equity, and open-source ISRU: Collaborate, innovate, include. No nation love humankind left grounded.
Omid whispered to the world: Hope launches from anywhere.
Ignite Your Own Hope
Omid calls to you — the coder, the maker, the visionary. What’s your satellite? Your rover? Your starshot?
Join us in building a cosmos where every voice reaches orbit.
✦ Launch Your Legacy ✦