Iran launches observation satellite

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

Dudi Cohen

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

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

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  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 

  „Navid” was launched in honor of the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, as Iran attempts to use its technological abilities as a way to show the West that the  

  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. 

   

  AFP contributed to this report