Iran launches observation satellite

Iran launched its third observation satellite since 2009 into orbit according to the official IRNA news agency.

3 February 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

Iran has launched the third satellite since 2009 amid western fears that the data gathered could be used to help develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads

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"The Navid satellite was launched successfully.... It will be placed into an orbit (at an altitude) between 250 and 370 kilometres," IRNA quoted the head of Iran's Space Organisation, Hamid Fazeli, as saying.

The 50-kilogram (110-pound) satellite is meant to stay in orbit for 18 months, sending back images to Iran as it completes a revolution of Earth every 90 minutes. It was unveiled two years ago and its launch had long been expected.

Iran's defence minister, Ahmad Vahidi, said the Navid satellite would beam its images to several ground stations across the country, according to media.

This is the third satellite launched by Iran, the previous two launched in February 2009 and July 2011. These remained in orbit for two to three months.

The launch comes as Iran is marking the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic revolution - and as tensions are heating up over Iran's nuclear programme.

Western nations fear that Iran could use information gained through its space programme to develop ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

There is increasing speculation that Israel is considering air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities - an action that could possibly spark a broader conflict drawing in the United States.

Teheran, which insists its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful, says its space ambitions include launching seven other satellites in coming years - and putting an Iranian astronaut into orbit by 2020 despite the failure of an attempt to put an monkey into orbit in mid-2011.

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So what? Haven't Iran even got the right to have technology as other countries? As if the Earth belongs to the western countries only, especially the USA! Many western economies are in deep shit because of the bad administration of many governments, and after all these mistakes from these so called politicians, they are putting all the load on their people. That's TRUE DEMOCRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!