Iran Launches First Space Center

TEHRAN — Iran fired a rocket on Monday, February 4, designed to carry its first locally-made research satellite next year and to mark the opening of its first space center, taking another technological advance but triggering swift condemnation from the United States.

"We witness today that Iran has taken its first step in space very firmly, precisely and with awareness," said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he gave the order for the launch, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We need to have an active and influential presence in space."

The space centre, located in the remote desert of western Iran, will be used to launch Iran's first home-produced satellite "Omid" (Hope) in May or June this year, officials said.

Iran has been pursuing a space program for several years, and in October 2005 a Russian-made Iranian satellite was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.

But Omid would be Iran's first domestically manufactured probe and the first to be launched from Iranian territory.

Iran has said it plans to construct and launch several more satellites over the next three years.

Another Advance

Experts say the space center is a proof on how advanced the Iranian technology is.

"I think it is yet another indication that Iran's technology is moving very quickly up the scale," London-based defense analyst Paul Beaver told Reuters.

Beaver said the impressive technological strides being made by the Islamic state give its arch enemies, Israel and the United States, a cause for concern.

"The Israelis will claim there is no reason why they (Iran) can't launch a weapon system in the same way or why they cannot make a long-range ballistic missile," he said.

The rocket, which is dubbed Kavoshgar-1, bore a close resemblance to Iran's longer-range missile Shahab-3, but there is not word whether it was belonging to the ballistics.

Ahmadinejad has made Iran's scientific development one of the main themes of his presidency, asserting that the country has reached a peak of progress and no longer needs to depend on foreign states for help.

The White House was quick to slam Iran's experience as "unfortunate."

"I saw this morning that Iran, again, tested a ballistic missile. It's unfortunate that they continue to do that because it further isolates the country from the rest of the world," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Iran has been under mounting US-led pressures over its nuclear program, which the West claims it is for military purposes.

Tehran insists the program is for generating electricity and peaceful purposes.

IslamOnline.net & News Agencies