Written by Derek Kessler on
Monday, 04 February 2008
Iran today launched its first rocket into space and unveiled a new space center from which their emerging space program will launch. The Explorer-1 rocket, which is capable of carrying a satellite into orbit, exceeds the range of Iran's first rocket, which launched a year ago to the edge of space. 'Space' is considered to begin at 100 km (60 miles) altitude.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was present at the space center opening, and gave the order to launch the Explorer-1 rocket. The center is comprised of a single launch pad and an underground control center.
Ahmadinejad also unveiled Iran's first domestically-built satellite, a communications satellite called Omid - 'Hope' in English. The satellite took Iranian engineers ten years to build, and is planned for launch sometime within the coming year. Iran's first commercial satellite was launched aboard a Russian rocket in 2005.
Iran hopes to launch four more satellites by the end of 2010 in a bid to bolster communications in the country. They plan to increase the number of land and mobile telephone lines to 80 million from 22 million, and also to expand internet access from the current 5.5 million up to 35 million. Iran's population currently stands at 65 million.
Some western officials have expressed doubt about Iran's intentions with their young space program, claiming that it is only being pursued with the goal of developing farther-flying missiles. Iran currently possesses missiles - the Ashoura - capable of delivering a payload 2000 km (1200 miles). Iran claims that the Explorer-1 rockets is based on the Ashoura missiles. The United State's first rockets were based off of the Nazi V-2 missile developed by Wernher von Braun.
Iran today launched its first rocket into space and unveiled a new space center from which their emerging space program will launch. The Explorer-1 rocket, which is capable of carrying a satellite into orbit, exceeds the range of Iran's first rocket, which launched a year ago to the edge of space. 'Space' is considered to begin at 100 km (60 miles) altitude.
