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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Iran again claims satellite put in orbit by Safir-2 space-launch vehicle

NICOSIA — Iran has reported the launch of its first indigenous satellite.   

The Teheran regime said the Omid, or Hope, satellite was launched into orbit on Feb. 2. A government announcement said the satellite was hurled into space orbit by Iran's Safir-2 space-launch vehicle.

"In another achievement for Iranian scientists under sanctions, Iran launched its first home-made Hope satellite into orbit," Iranian state television said.

There was no confirmation of the Iranian announcement by foreign countries. In 2008, Iran claimed two successful SLV launches, including that of Safir-2, that were later determined to have failed.

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"We have been aware for close to a year that Iran was preparing to launch a satellite," a Western intelligence source, who could not confirm the Iranian satellite launch, said. "It could be just a box with wires that they've sent into space. The Iranian goal is to demonstrate SLV capability."

The announcement, which also reported Iranian plans to send an astronaut into space by 2021, described Omid as a research satellite that would test equipment in space. The satellite was said to contain a payload that included data-collection and instrumentation as well as power supply systems.

"This is the first satellite that has been launched in the history of our nation and it was carried by Safir-2 satellite carrier," the semi-official Fars news agency said.

Officials said Omid, meant to have been launched in May 2008, would spend up to three months in space. They said Omid, placed in a low-earth orbit at an altitude of 250 kilometers, would pave the way for a full-fledged Iranian satellite launch in 2010. Iran plans to launch three satellites over the next two years.

"Iran's presence in space with the aim of expanding monotheism, peace and justice has now been officially recorded in history," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said.

In 2005, Iran launched the Sina-1 experimental satellite into space. Russia built the satellite and launched the platform.

Both Israel and the United States have determined that Iran's SLV program was a cover for an intercontinental ballistic missile program. The assessment by Jerusalem and Washington was that Iran could reach ICBM capability by 2012.

Safir-2, with a diameter of 1.25 meters, measures 22 meters and weighs 26 tons. The SLV was said to be a derivative of the Shihab-3B intermediate-range missile.

Iran's official news agency, Irna, said Omid would circle the earth 15 times per day. Irna said Safir-2 demonstrated its capability to "accurately launch a light satellite into space and place it in orbit."

"All parts of Safir-2 Omid have been made by Iranian scientists," Irna said.


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