Recently, the head of Iran’s Space Research Institute announced plans to introduce space education in schools in the near future. In light of the upcoming academic year, Borna News examined the details of this plan to show how the next generation of students could become familiar with space achievements and technologies.
The Need for Space Education in Schools
In conversation with BORNA, Vahid Yazdaniyan explained that the space education program will not be a standalone subject but will be implemented as part of outreach programs across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Agreements with the Ministry of Education have been made, and the main goal is to introduce students to space concepts and spark their interest in the field.
Comparing Iran’s space technology with countries such as the U.S. and Russia, Yazdaniyan noted that Iran is at a technological level similar to the 1970s–1990s for these countries, while they had already started outreach-based space education. Today’s astronauts were once students exposed to basic space education during those decades.
He added that investing in students’ space education is a strategic necessity. Currently, many teenagers’ perception of space is limited to cartoons and science fiction movies. To address this, the Space Research Institute will not only revise educational content but also organize visits to space centers to allow students to experience Iran’s space achievements firsthand.
Completing Previous and New Space Projects Quickly
Yazdaniyan highlighted recent efforts to rapidly complete ongoing projects, including the construction of the Nahid and Pars satellites, as well as the operational launch of the Khayyam satellite. The latter, which had previously proceeded in a fragmented manner, is now being managed through precise, process-oriented protocols.
He described the most important development at the institute as the creation of a national space ecosystem. Images from the Khayyam satellite are now being commercialized, with contracts signed with the municipalities of Tehran, Kerman, and Shiraz to support urban management.
Expanding International Cooperation in Space
In the communications sector, similar initiatives are underway, including negotiations to establish space operators to provide diverse services to the public. At the same time, discussions with foreign countries, such as China, are ongoing to collaborate on satellite construction, operation, and attract foreign investment. Yazdaniyan reported positive progress in these efforts.
He emphasized that the institute’s long-term goal for the next 2–3 years is to make space services tangible for the public. Currently, ordinary citizens have little knowledge or interest in satellite launches or production. The goal is to integrate space services into everyday life, including urban management, agriculture, weather forecasting, traffic control, and construction.
Space Industry’s Contribution to GDP
Yazdaniyan explained that if these trends continue, the space industry could contribute significantly to Iran’s GDP. Currently, this contribution is unclear, even though the space industry is a major player in the modern global economy.
Necessity of Importing Satellites
To accelerate the provision of services, Iran must purchase some satellites from abroad. However, this will continue alongside the development of domestic satellites. Iran has the capability to design, build, assemble subsystems, test, and even launch satellites, but the process is time-consuming. Therefore, importing satellites is essential to meet immediate needs while domestic development continues.
Public Awareness and Accountability
One of the biggest challenges, he noted, is the public’s lack of demand and awareness regarding the space sector. Until tangible services are provided, public understanding cannot develop. For instance, recent GPS disruptions affected many businesses, which could have been avoided if Iran had an independent navigation satellite system.
Yazdaniyan concluded by highlighting the high economic potential of communication satellites, which account for nearly 80% of the global space economy. The reason for major investments by individuals such as Elon Musk is their high economic return. Iran must pursue a similar path, leveraging the private sector, universities, and research centers to build a profitable and efficient space industry.
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