Tue, Feb 03, 2009
Islamic State's 'Source Of Pride' Not Very Advanced, US
Says
For better or worse, there's a new space power in the world.
Iran launched its first satellite into low-Earth orbit Monday
evening, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1979 overthrow of the
Shah and the start of the Islamic Revolution.
Reuters reports Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the
satellite a "source of pride" for the belligerent state. The small
telecommunications satellite -- dubbed Omid, or "Hope" -- has
apparently already completed its primary mission... to transmit a
message from Ahmadinejad.
State-run media called Omid "another achievement for Iranian
scientists under sanctions," and stressed the satellite was
constructed entirely by Iranian technicians.
Omid is the first of many satellites Tehran plans to launch in
the future, said Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad
Najjar... who added Iran aims to establish a full-fledged space
program.
Officials in the United States confirmed the launch, pointedly
noting Omid didn't represent "highly advanced technology" by any
means. The greater concern to the West is the Safir long-range
rocket used to launch the satellite.
As ANN reported, Iran first launched the
two-stage rocket in August 2008. Though Iranian officials called
that test firing a success, US military intelligence said the
rocket's second stage went out of control. Monday's launch, if
nothing else, shows that problem has apparently been solved.
In addition to commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Islamic
revolution, Monday's launch also came two days before
representatives from the US, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and
China are scheduled to meet in Frankfurt, to discuss the threat
posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions.
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