Iran space rocket launch a "considerable advance in technology"

While the usual folks are engaged in ridiculing Iran's recent launch of a turtle and some worms into space, an actual rocket scientist says:

[L]et’s take a minute to appreciate the technological feat it represents! In the face of world opposition and sanctions, Iran has joined a very exclusive club: those countries that have managed to orbit a satellite.

I guess I need to go into this in somewhat more detail. What ever Iran used to put the satellite in orbit, it needed to achieve a speed of 7.8 km/s at 242 km altitude. I find that very hard to accomplish with the fuels I think the Safir used (nitric acid and kerosene). When I try modeling it, I get a two stage Safir giving a 25 kg satellite a speed of 6.4 km/s at 200 km. David Wright quotes a considerably smaller velocity, though I dont understand his model; it seems to be some sort of Taepodong variant. (I could be wrong about that, but thats what I get from his comment in Jeffrey’s post.) Given these calculations, it seems to me and others that two stages seems improbable unless Iran has achieved a considerable advance in engine/fuel specific impulse. On the other hand, the initial brightness measurements from experienced amateur satellite observers seems to favor a final stage that is considerably brighter than the satellite. That in turn favors the two stage model which implies Iran has made a considerable advance in technology

Comments

[Susan]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Susan

[Pirouz]

Iran's aerospace efforts shouldn't be mocked. Consider supposedly more sophisticated US ally South Korea's continued failure at replicating Iran's feat.

And the continued threat hype over Iran's efforts are really tired.

[Lysander]

Did the animals come back to earth alive? Because that would be a very impressive accomplishment if true. It would mean they would have to be able to release a capsule in high atmosphere and parachute it down. It would also require somkind of life support system to keep them alive in space. I recall reading somewhere that Iran intends to put a man in space in 10 years. This launch would be a big step in that direction.

[No, as a former turtle owner, I am sorry to say that they didn't. Neither did the first mice sent into space.]

[Anthony]

Sorry but that looks like a post from last year.

[Yes I know. The point still stands. One year is not a long time ago!]