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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran test-launches satellite missile |
| 2008-02-04 |
| Iran tested a missile capable of carrying satellites into space, Iranian state television said Monday, as part of a program to launch a research satellite in the near future. The rocket was launched from a new Iranian space center, inaugurated by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The report claimed that the satellite itself would be launched by 2009. It is reported to be called Omid which means "Hope", and is said to be a low-altitude satellite. A successful satellite launch would testify to a dramatic improvement in Teheran's missile capability. Ahmadinejad was present at the launch site, and gave the order for the launch himself. "Our presence in space is a necessity", said Ahmadinejad at the ceremony. "Any country that respects itself should control the most advanced technology...we are grateful to God for witnessing the first and determined step towards an Iranian satellite." Iranian news agency IRNA said the satellite was intended for research, but did not detail any technical specifications, raising suspicions that it might also be capable of being used for intelligence and other strategic purposes. The report came on the heels of a successful Israeli satellite launch in January. The Israeli TecSar satellite, launched from India, began transferring its first footage to the control center in Yehud over the weekend. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #3 Pro Tip: Never be photographed with funny glasses. |
| Posted by: Thomas Woof 2008-02-04 17:33 |
#2  Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) and Armed forces joint chief of staff Hasan Firouzabadi (L) wear 3-D glasses to watch a program about a rocket as they visit the aerospace industries center of the defense ministry in Tehran, Iran on February 4, 2008. Iran on Monday launched its first space research unit in the presence of President Ahmadinejad. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-02-04 15:19 |
| #1 However, Ali Akbar Golrou, executive director of the same facility, was later quoted by Fars news agency as saying the craft launched by was a sub-orbital rocket for scientific research. "What was announced by the head of the research centre was the news of launching this sounding rocket," Mr Golrou said. It would not remain in orbit but could rise to about 150km (94 miles) before a parachute-assisted descent to Earth. |
| Posted by: john frum 2008-02-04 10:02 |