IFP - The Islamic Republic of Iran is set to send another satellite into space as part of the country�s space program.






Hossein Bolandi, a satellite project manager at Iran�s University of Science and Technology, says the Simorgh (Phoenix) satellite is ready to be launched.

�The Simorgh satellite weighing between 200 and 250 kilograms is ready to be placed into orbit 500 kilometres above the earth,� he noted.

Bolandi said the Amirkabir satellite is ready as well.

He then touched upon the space activities conducted in the country, as�reported�by�Mizan News Agency.

�The issue of space [activities] in the country almost goes back to the 1990s when the Supreme Leader raised it,� he said.

�With this domestic capability, all the assessment-telecommunications needs of the space sector can be met,� he noted.

He said some 17,000 jobs can be created in the space sector by 2025.

�We made considerable progress in the space industry in less than 20 years, and we are one of the world�s space powers,� Bolandi said.

�We need satellite images in the water, agriculture and other sectors,� said the satellite project manager, noting that satellites can also meet the needs of the country in the telecoms sector.

�The creation of telecoms satellite systems can meet all the country�s needs in this sector,� he said.

He underlined that domestic experts will be able to meet all the needs in the country�s space sector by 2025.