Iran To Launch First Homemade Satellite
 

File image of Iran's long range Shihab missile on parade.

Tehran, Iran (UPI) Oct 7, 2004
An Iranian military official said Thursday his country would launch its first homemade satellite into space during the next Persian year, which starts in March.

Deputy Defense Minister for Space Affairs Nasser Maliki was quoted by the Iranian News Agency as saying the satellite would orbit the earth at low altitudes varying between 100 and 400 kilometers (about 60 to 250 miles).

It is a small satellite which will prove the capacity of the Islamic Republic of Iran in space technology, Maliki said, noting that only 10 countries in the world possess satellites at present.

He said Iran also improved its missile production and technology in recent years and is manufacturing tens of surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles with longer ranges.

We are on the threshold of entering the international space club ... Until 1998 we were producing short-range missiles and today we are into the production of long-range surface-to-surface missiles like Shihab 1 and 2 which deter the enemy, he said.

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