Iran to launch satellites into space mid 2011

TEHRAN (ISNA)-Iran said it intends to launch three satellites into space mid 2011 as it unveiled further details on its launch program.

"Rasad 1" (observation 1) satellite is to be sent into space early Iranian New Year (which starts on March 20), and the project is followed by Fajr (Dawn) satellite and Elm-o- Sannat (Science and Industry) student version," the Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli told ISNA.

"Rasad 1 is ready to be fired into space, but the two other ones should pass some experiments and undergo reforms," he said adding that, "experts should verify telecommunications, communication and video-taping subsystems of the satellites."

He said the three satellites are sensing ones, adding that Fajr satellite carries out sensing missions as well as testing new technologies.

Fazeli also continued that the country is to send "astronaut monkey" in to space through an Iranian-made explorer mid 2011 adding that Iran launches "Explorer 4" late February or early March without a biological capsule to test its subsystems to verify performance of numerous subsystems to be placed in the satellite, some of them are to be tested for the first time.

He added Iran then examines results of the launch process and corrects possible faults to pave the way for launch of the "explorer 4" with a biological capsule mid 2011.

Posted in: Space and outer Space