Iran successfully launched its heaviest payload to date on Friday using the Simorgh carrier rocket, which included an advanced module designed for transferring satellites to higher-altitude orbits, according to state television reports.

The broadcast detailed that the Samān-1 transfer module, along with a CubeSat and a research payload, were effectively placed into an elliptical orbit, reaching a maximum altitude of 410 km (255 miles) and a minimum of 300 km.

This launch occurs amid allegations from the United States and European nations that Iran is supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, potentially for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a claim that Iran has refuted. The Simorgh, a two-stage liquid-fueled satellite launch vehicle, is developed by Iran’s defense ministry and Armed Forces Logistics, as reported by Iranian media.

During this eighth launch, the vehicle achieved a significant milestone by successfully deploying the Samān-1 Orbital Transfer Block along with two additional research payloads, totaling approximately 300 kg (660 pounds), thus setting a new national record for the heaviest payload sent into orbit.

Earlier in January, Iran announced its first simultaneous launch of three satellites using the Simorgh rocket. This included one satellite weighing 32 kg (70 pounds) and two nano-satellites, each under 10 kg, which were intended for testing narrowband communication and geopositioning technologies, with a minimum orbit of 450 km (280 miles). In September, Iran also successfully placed the Chamran-1 research satellite into a 550-km (340-mile) orbit using the Qaem-100 satellite carrier.