Iran reacts to attacks on sat launch
Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:34:10 GMT
Tehran dismisses concerns over its recent launch of a domestic satellite, saying its space advancement serves no military purpose.
"This is a scientific and technical achievement and has no military aim," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Iran placed its Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian) satellite into orbit by Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2, ushering in an era of independence in its space program in commemoration of the Islamic Revolution's 30th anniversary.
Qashqavi says the Omid satellite does not serve military purposes.
Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid has an elliptical orbit of a minimum of 250 kilometers (156 miles) and maximum 400 kilometers.
The lightweight telecommunications satellite is equipped with remote sensing, satellite telemetry and geographic information system technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.
Omid is a research satellite that has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for one to three months, Omid will return to earth, returning with data that will help Iranian experts send an operational satellite into space.
While the successful satellite placement was celebrated as an important achievement in Iran, world powers immediately set alarm bells ringing over the issue.
France, Germany, Britain and the United States have all claimed that the move is cause for "great concern".
Western reaction to the satellite launch came just ahead of Wednesday's scheduled meeting in Germany of senior diplomats from the P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- which will discuss Iran's nuclear program.
"Developing a space launch vehicle that ... could put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," said US State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, has taken a softer tone on Iran.
Speaking after a meeting with British Foreign Minister David Miliband in Washington, Clinton said, "It is clear that... Iran has an opportunity to step up and become a productive member of the international community."
"As President Obama said, we are reaching out a hand [to Iran] but the fist has to unclench," she continued.
Iran has become the 8th country to have put a domestically-built satellite into orbit. Tehran also plans to send its first astronaut into space by 2021.
The Iranian aerospace achievement comes as the country has been subject to sanctions for nearly 30 years. The sanctions cut Iran's access to a long list of goods, including spare parts for passenger planes and even various medicines.
SF/JG/AA
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Kharazmi awarded for Iran space triumph
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:50:14 GMT
Two Iranian officials have won awards at the International Kharazmi Festival as Tehran takes its space program to the next level.
The award was bestowed to Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar and Minister of Science, Research and Technology Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi for their help in the promotion of the aerospace industry, Press TV correspondent Gisoo Misha Ahmadi reported.
Iran's Safir-2 rocket carried the Omid satellite into orbit earlier on Tuesday.
The completion of the semi-domestic research satellite Mesbah is another recent achievement of Iranian aerospace experts.
Mesbah, which is ready for launch into outer space, has been equipped with a store and forward communications receiver that can gather information from various parts of the planet and transmits it back to earth.
696 domestic and 156 foreign projects from 42 countries participated in the international event and competed for the prestigious Kharazmi award.
Named after a famous Iranian mathematician, Kharazmi awards were presented for 25 domestic and 13 foreign scientific projects.
Iran hopes to take great leaps in space technology in the coming decade with plans to send an astronaut into space by 2021.
NAT/AA
Leader congratulates Iran on Omid sat
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:05:23 GMT
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has congratulated the Iranian nation on the launch of the country's first domestic research satellite.
In a Tuesday letter to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei praised Iranian scientists for their diligence, saying, “This achievement testifies to the hope the revolution has brought for the Iranian nation.”
Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei
Iran placed its first domestic research satellite into orbit via two carrier rockets early on Tuesday.
Omid - meaning 'Hope' in Persian - was sent into space by Iran's domestically built satellite carrier Safir 2. Safir 2 is an upgraded model of carrier Safir 1.
President Ahmadinejad in a congratulatory message to the Iranian nation said, “The efforts of the children of Iran have made possible putting the Omid satellite into orbit... May this be a step toward... justice and peace.”
The Omid research satellite has been designed for gathering information and testing equipment.
AR/HGH
Iran defends Sat launch amid West ire
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:19:28 GMT
Iran has dismissed Western concerns over the launch of its domestically-made satellite, insisting the breakthrough is one of peaceful nature.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday that Iran's space-related achievements are in line with the country's legal needs and requirements.
“Satellites are essential in gathering information on environmental, technological, agricultural, climatic, and economic developments,” the Iranian official said.
Iran has
successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit
“It is interesting how some countries believe they alone are entitled to space-related achievements,” he continued, adding that all countries have the right to reap the benefits of scientific breakthroughs.
Mottaki asserted that there is no reason for concern, because Iran has proved that aggression has no place in its military doctrine over the past century.
“In the past 100 years, Iran has proved its commitment to world peace and has never instigated an assault against any country by any means,” said Mottaki.
Iran's data-processing 'Omid' satellite was sent into space on Tuesday, in commemoration of the Islamic Revolution's 30th anniversary.
Equipped with two frequency bands and eight antennae, Omid has an elliptical orbit of minimum of 250 kilometers (156 miles) and maximum 400 kilometers.
While the satellite's successful takeoff was celebrated as an important achievement in Iran's aerospace industry, it was immediately met with Western scrutiny and skepticism.
France, Germany, Britain and the United States have all claimed that the move is cause for “great concern”.
"Developing a space launch vehicle that ... could put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," said State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood.
Iran is the 9th country to put a domestically-built satellite into orbit since the Soviet Union launched the first in 1957.
Iran's achievement comes as the country has been under Western sanctions for nearly 30 years. The sanctions deprive Iran from a long list of goods including spare parts of passenger planes and even different kinds of medicine.
SBB/DT
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