Iran launches observation satellite

[Selected by Rael]

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The Raelian Movement
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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4184779,00.html

Iran launches observation satellite

Islamic Republic sends 'Navid' into orbit. Satellite said to be equipped
with advanced surveillance, imaging systems

Published: 02.03.12, 08:31 / Israel News

Iran launched an observation satellite into orbit, its Arabic satellite
television channel Al-Alam reported Friday.

A report by the official Iranian news agency IRNA confirmed the launch: "The
Navid satellite was launched successfully... It will be placed into orbit
(at an altitude) between 250 and 370 kilometers," the head of Iran's Space
Organization, Hamid Fazeli, said.

The launch followed a direct order by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Fazeli said that the domestically-produced satellite, will be used for
scientific purposes and that its surveillance and imaging systems are more
advanced that those mounted on previously launched Iranian satellites.

The launch's importance lies beyond the satellite's size and orbit
trajectory - it signals Iran's ability to launch the missile carrying it
into space, which may indicate progress in its missile program.

"Navid" was launched in honor of the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic
Revolution in Tehran, as Iran attempts to assert its technological abilities
as a way to show that the sanctions imposed on it by the West over its
nuclear program, have little effect.

Iran's Press TV reported Friday that the Islamic Republic "plans to
establish a national satellite launch base with the cooperation of the
country's Defense Ministry."

Ahmadinejad has reportedly ordered his cabinet to prepare an operational
plan to that effect, Fazeli said.

Iran launched its first satellite in 2005, becoming the 43rd nation to send
a satellite into space.

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