TEHRAN, Sep. 19 (MNA) – Head of Iranian Space Agency said the installation of the ground-based optical telescope for observing celestial objects is almost finished and the project will become operational during World Space Week in October.


Mohsen Bahrami, Head of Iranian Space Agency, said the project of ground-based optical system for observing celestial objects has been approved in Peru, Pakistan, China and Iran by the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). He added that the telescope will soon be installed at Mahdasht Space Center, located 70km west of Tehran.

“Meanwhile, the project of satellite data sharing between APSCO member states has had good progress, and the rich source of data currently accumulated at Mahdasht Space Center can be useful at the international level,” he said.

He expressed hope that the satellite image archive of Iranian Space Agency would be unveiled during the Fajr Decade in February, and noted that the APSCO project is ready to become operational during World Space Week lasting from 4 to 10 October.

He further referred to the meeting of the Council of APSCO in Beijing and the recent meeting in Istanbul, adding “with continuous efforts, we managed to have the Council approve the placing of a satellite in APSCO’s constellation by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

“This year, we will have the launching of ‘Friendship Satellite’ and will be ready to launch the second satellite at the end of this year or the beginning of next year,” he said.

By Mehr News Agency