Iran has completed preparations to place its first
satellite into orbit.
Iranian sources said the Sina reconnaissance satellite would be launched
from a Russian booster on Oct. 27. They said the Chinese-origin Sina would
be launched from Russia's Plesetsk launch site along with satellites from
Britain, China and Russia.
The Iranian embassy in Moscow said Sina would be launched on schedule, Middle East Newsline reported.
The embassy said Sina would be capable of monitoring natural
disasters and urban growth.
Israel, however, has determined that Sina would be used for military
reconnaissance missions. Israeli officials said Israeli Vice Prime Minister
Shimon Peres plans to discuss Sina during his talks on Wednesday with
visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The Sina launch has been twice postponed because of technical
difficulties. The sources said Iran failed to complete Sina on schedule, and
that an integration difficulties with the Russian Kosmos-3 booster in June
2005 delayed operations at Plesetsk.
Teheran has asserted that five satellites would be constructed and
launched by 2010. In July 2005, then-Deputy Communications Minister Hassan
Shafti said the Mesbah telecommunications satellite would be launched in
2005.
Shafti said three satellites would be launched by 2008. He did not
elaborate.
