TEHRAN (ISNA)- Director of Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli announced that the country plans to launch two satellites into space by the end of the Iranian calender year (which ends on March 20).
"Tests are being conducted on the two satellites of Sharif and Tadbir before the launching process," he said.

Elsewhere, regarding 'AtSat' satellite, he said, "The satellite carrier has not been prepared and the satellite itself has not been constructed yet."

He said the AtSat, a sensing-telecommunications satellite, which should be launched by Simorgh satellite carrier is expected to be prepared in next few months.

Omid (hope) was Iran's first research satellite that was designed for gathering information and testing equipment. After orbiting for three months, Omid successfully completed its mission without any problem. It completed more than 700 orbits over seven weeks and reentered the Earth's atmosphere on April 25, 2009.

After launching Omid, Tehran unveiled three new satellites called Tolou, Mesbah II and Navid, respectively. Iran has also unveiled its latest achievements in designing and producing satellite carriers.

A new generation of home-made satellites and a new satellite carrier called Simorgh (Phoenix) were among the latest achievements unveiled by Iran's aerospace industries.

The milk-bottle shaped rocket is equipped to carry a 60-kilogram (132-pound) satellite 500 kilometers (310 miles) into orbit.

The 27-meter (90 foot) tall multi-stage rocket weighs 85 tons and its liquid fuel propulsion system has a thrust of up to 143 tons.

Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations' Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), which was set up in 1959.

By ISNA

 

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