Iran To Send Satellite To Space By March 20

[Purveyor]

Source: People's Daily

Iran's Space Agency (ISA) announced that the first domestically-built satellite of Iran called "Omid" (Hope) would be sent to the space by March 20, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

"If no problem hinders the process, the all-Iranian-made satellite will join the orbit by the end of the current Iranian year (ending on March 20)," ISA President Reza Taqipour said, adding that "Technical experts are trying to finalize the project according to the schedule."

In November, Iran successfully launched a space rocket "Kavosh 2" (Explorer 2), which after completing its mission, has returned to the earth.

The experiment was done within the framework of the country's "strategic space program" and "preparation for scientific and technological developments in the space" by the Iranian experts ofAir-Space Research Center, according to the website of Iran's state TV IRIB.

Iran launched a home-made satellite-carrier rocket named Safir (Messenger) in August last year, arousing Western governments' concerns over its purpose that Iran is developing long-range ballistic missile technology which can be used to launch nuclear weapons.


Read more: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90781/90876/6581674.html

[aquart]

1. I suddenly have this vision of a game of billiards in the sky.

[jwirr]

2. I take that as a threat because if they can send it to space then they

can send it to our "space".

[krispos42]

3. If it can launch something into orbit, it can deliver a warhead

And if it can deliver a warhead, it can launch into orbit. It's that simple.

Obviously the payload weights vary; you need more speed for an orbital insertion than an suborbital warhead flight. A rocket that can put a 500-pound warhead on a city 2,000 miles away can only put maybe 200 pounds in orbit. But it's dual-use technology.


This is why I don't object to development to destroy low-flying satellites; such technology has definite strategic uses. The missile shield concept is BS, but being able to take down recon satellites is a good and neccessary ability in my opinion.

[fascisthunter]

4. conservatives: "Be Very Afraid...."

"Quick... nuke em'!"