Iran to launch new satellite in August

NICOSIA - Iranian Telecommunication Minister Reza Taghipour has said that a new satellite will be launched into space during the last week of August.

Speaking to the Mehr News Agency, Taghipour described the satellite called Rasad 1 (Observeration 1) as Tehran’s newest achievement.

Taqhipour had earlier said that new satellites capable of transmitting data and images would be launched by March 2011. Rasad 1 will be launched on a new satellite carrier engine.

The launch of other Iranian satellites including Tollou (Dawn) satellite is on the agenda and would soon be announced by the Iranian Space Organization, Taghipour added.

Last February, Tehran revealed details of three new satellite prototypes-the Toloo (Dawn), Navid (Good News) and Mesbah-2 (Lantern).

At that time it test-fired a new satellite rocket and unveiled a series of what it said were homegrown advances in its space program, a push that worries Western officials because of possible crossover applications in Iran’s weapons program. By Iaonnis Solomou (ANI)