Iran to launch homemade satellite Fajr in spring

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization announced Tuesday, Feb 21, the domestically-built Fajr (Dawn) satellite would be launched in the early months of next Iranian year (starting March 20, 2012).

According to IRNA, Hamid Fazeli said Fajr satellite is equipped with cameras and evaluation facilities and would re-test the subsystems used in satellites which were previously sent to orbit.

He said the satellite was due to be launched in early February simultaneous with the ten-day celebrations to mark the 33rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, but the mission was delayed for more evaluations.

“This satellite is capable of staying in space for a year and a half and providing and transmitting pictures to stations on earth,” Fazeli said.

On June 20, 2011, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the country has gained access to the technology of developing various satellites and will soon launch larger satellites that will be placed in circular orbits at an altitude of nearly 35,000 kilometers (21,748 miles).

Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Outer Space, which was established in 1959.

Tehran also plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019.