Iran launches new satellite into orbit

Feb 3, 2012, 8:59 GMT

Tehran - Iran on Friday launched a small space satellite into orbit, which it says will be used for weather collection data and which the West fears could be used for military purposes instead.

The domestically-built 'Navid'e Elm-o-Sanat' - good message of science and industry - satellite was launched into orbit by the orders of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, according to local media reports.

The 50-kilogram satellite will be stationed between 250 and 375 kilometres above the Earth, orbiting the planet 15 times per day, the news agencies IRNA and Fars reported.

It's official purpose is to collect data on weather conditions, climate changes and natural disasters.

The United States and Israel have argued that Iranian space technology could be used to carry out ballistic attacks.

Iran launched its first satellite Omid (Hope) into orbit in February 2009. The following year, it unveiled three new communications satellites, plus a domestically produced carrier, Simorq, which can take a 100-kilogram satellite into orbit.

Last year, Iran launched the Rassad-1 (Observer) imaging satellite, which was also designed and constructed by Iranian experts.

Tehran has rejected Western charges that its aerospace projects have military aims and accuses the West of portraying Iran's scientific achievements as acts of aggression.