Iran on Saturday morning launched research satellite Chamran-1 into orbit, the semi-official Fars news agency reported. The satellite was launched by the homegrown three-stage solid-fuel Qaem-100 rocket, according to the report. Chamran-1 was designed and built by the space group of Iran Electronics Industries in cooperation with the country's Aerospace Research Institute and private tech firms, according to Fars. Weighing nearly 60 kg, the satellite's main mission was to test the software and hardware systems to validate the technology for orbital maneuvering. It is also tasked with assessing the performance of the cold gas propulsion subsystems in space systems and the navigation and attitude control subsystems, according to Fars. The launch was the second operation carried out by the Qaem-100 carrier rocket, which was designed and developed by the Aerospace Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. The Chamran-1 satellite, which is operating in an orbit 550 km above Earth, has sent back its fi rst signals, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA. Enditem Source: The Namibia Press Agency