[FPSPACE] The First Persian Astronaut Being Planned within a Decade

[Peter Pesavento]

>From The Evening Standard (London).

 

 

A more exact timetable may be had by this time next year for this alleged
manned mission.

 

 

 

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23542465-details/Iran%27s+mission
+to+send+astronaut+into+orbit+sparks+fears+it+wants+to+put+weapons+in+space/
article.do

 

 

Iran's mission to send astronaut into orbit sparks fears it wants to put
weapons in space 

Last updated at 15:29pm on 21.08.08

 

Iran has launched a mission to send its first astronaut into space within
the decade.

The Islamic Republic plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10
years, state television said on Thursday, just days after announcing it had
put a dummy satellite into orbit.

The Republic has long held the goal of developing a space program,
generating unease among world leaders already concerned about its nuclear
and ballistic missile programs.

 

Embroiled in a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions, Iran said
on Sunday it had put the dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket
for the first time.

U.S. security officials said Tehran's attempted satellite launch was a
failure that fell short of claimed successes, but an analyst said the test
marked a technical advance for Iran.

The long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into space can
also be used for launching weapons. 

Iran says it has no such intention.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear warhead, a charge Tehran
denies, insisting its nuclear ambitions are aimed at generating electricity
so it that it can export more of its massive oil and gas reserves.

"One of the aims of Iran's 10-year space programme is to send a manned
rocket into space," state television quoted Reza Taghipour, the head of
Iran's aerospace organisation, as saying.

"Within in the next six months to one year, the exact date of this mission
will be determined," he added.

Taghipour said Iran would cooperate with Islamic countries in building a
satellite that television said would be called, Besharat, meaning 'good
news'. He also said Iran was working with Russia and other Asian states to
launch another satellite.

U.S. officials said the vehicle which Iran said on Sunday had delivered a
dummy satellite into space failed shortly after lift off and did not reach
its intended position.

But Charles Vick, a senior analyst for GlobalSecurity.org research group,
said Iran appeared to have succeeded in igniting the second stage of its
booster rocket and gained data that will help it perfect its launch system. 

 

 

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