Iran completes first space mission
Shelly Fowler
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: News
An Iranian carrier rocket, Safir-2, successfully put the Omid communications satellite into a low orbit late on Monday.
Iranian technicians said the satellite had already completed its first mission, which was to transmit a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who spoke at the launching ceremony Monday night.
In his message, Ahmadinejad congratulated the nation and said the successful launch improved Iran's status in the world, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
He stressed that both the satellite and the Safir rocket used to launch it were made entirely by Iranian technicians. Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that despite the small size of the Omid satellite, it will open the way for an Iranian space program.
He said Tehran plans to launch another satellite in the future.
Iran insists that its space program is solely based on improving Iranian lifestyle and is entirely of peaceful nature.
Iranian technicians monitoring the satellite stated that the satellite will stay in orbit for at least two months as it sends processed technical data back to the Iran Aerospace Organization.
Reza Taqipour, President of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, stated that because of the limited life of the satellite's battery it will operate for at least two months and that its main purpose is to monitor stations built by Iranian specialists.
They also reported that this is only the beginning, and Iran's space officials are planning to put a series of satellites into space by 2010 to aid natural disaster management programs and improve telecommunications.
Iran's president believes that the success of the satellite launch last Tuesday, is a "source of pride" for the Islamic republic.
The United States of America, France, Israel and the United Kingdom have already expressed concern over the recent satellite launch.
The United States Department of Defense officials confirmed the launch, and the State Department expressed "grave concern."
Iranian technicians said the satellite had already completed its first mission, which was to transmit a message from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who spoke at the launching ceremony Monday night.
In his message, Ahmadinejad congratulated the nation and said the successful launch improved Iran's status in the world, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
He stressed that both the satellite and the Safir rocket used to launch it were made entirely by Iranian technicians. Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that despite the small size of the Omid satellite, it will open the way for an Iranian space program.
He said Tehran plans to launch another satellite in the future.
Iran insists that its space program is solely based on improving Iranian lifestyle and is entirely of peaceful nature.
Iranian technicians monitoring the satellite stated that the satellite will stay in orbit for at least two months as it sends processed technical data back to the Iran Aerospace Organization.
Reza Taqipour, President of the Iranian Aerospace Organization, stated that because of the limited life of the satellite's battery it will operate for at least two months and that its main purpose is to monitor stations built by Iranian specialists.
They also reported that this is only the beginning, and Iran's space officials are planning to put a series of satellites into space by 2010 to aid natural disaster management programs and improve telecommunications.
Iran's president believes that the success of the satellite launch last Tuesday, is a "source of pride" for the Islamic republic.
The United States of America, France, Israel and the United Kingdom have already expressed concern over the recent satellite launch.
The United States Department of Defense officials confirmed the launch, and the State Department expressed "grave concern."
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