Posted on 02/04/2008 11:12:03 PM PST by robomatik
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran launched a research rocket and unveiled its first major space center, state television reported Monday, the latest steps in a program many fear may be cover for further development of its military ballistic missiles.
State television showed live images of the event, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issuing the launch order.
Iran has long declared a goal of developing a space program, but the same technology used to put satellites in space can also be used to deliver warheads. The country's space program, like its nuclear power program, has provoked unease abroad.
"It is just another troubling development," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "And, of course, the U.N. Security Council and other members of the international system have expressed their deep concern about Iran's continuing development of medium- and long-range ballistic missiles."
Iranian officials have said they are developing a Shahab-4 missile to launch a satellite. Iran's powerful ballistic missile, the Shahab-3, is believed to have a range of at least 800 miles, putting Israel and much of the Middle East in range. In November, Iran said it had manufactured a new missile, the Ashoura, with a range of 1,200 miles.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said, "It's unfortunate they continue to do that (missile development) because it further isolates the country from the rest of the world."
Iran, which also unveiled its first domestically built satellite Monday, says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation and improve its telecommunications. Iranian officials also point to America's use of satellites to monitor Afghanistan and Iraq and say they need similar abilities for their security.
Despite concern over Iran's space program, it is not clear how far along it is, or whether the latest launch actually reached the internationally agreed-upon beginning of "space," set at 60 miles above the earth.
Analysts have expressed doubts about certain technological achievements announced by Iran in the past. The country launched its first domestically built rocket last February, which soared to the edge of space but did not reach orbit level.
On Monday, state-run television did not specify the altitude when announcing the launch. "With the launch, Iran has joined the world's top 11 countries possessing space technology to build satellites and launch rockets into space," it announced.
The lowest flying satellites, ham radio satellites, orbit between 100- 300 miles up, while communication, weather and global-positioning satellites fly between 250-12,000 miles up.
Tell me that's not true.
o.k. ...? (p.s. what is the guy behind achmed-nutjob doing hiding his face? is he embarassed?)
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that even Iran can shoot stuff to the outer limit of earths athmosphere. It’s been 64 years after v Braun did that for the first time.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they just copied the V2.
I have a deck of cards here, on each card an event has happened in the last week and some ongoing events, I see not one two or even three but even now a possible FIFTH undersea cable damaged,Tehran has just 20% internet abilty, an Aegis cruiser sitting off the coast of Israel, Iran is test firing basically ICBMs, Putin is playing war games in the north Atlantic literally loaded with Bears, its almost a new moon, its winter.
Adding this up as a playable poker hand it looks like at least a straight flush against Iran right now, I say somebody is going to do something in the next 72 hrs.
Yeah, they forgot to wind up the rubber band motor.
agreed! something is going on -and in short order.
:)
this one has to optimize a certain parameter important to the acceleration of the vehicle.
I think you have an interesting set of cards.
Time will tell what the shuffled deck will bring.
lol!
What was that in the NEA about ‘moderate confidence’?
I think also some atomic inspection group just left Iran as well, it was after the same scenario happened in Iraq we went in.
If we were planning anything it would already be on the front page of the New York Times.
Yep or the Washington Post or...
Anybody know where Geraldo is?
Wouldn’t it be a conspiracy if Bush decides to attack Iran on Super Tuesday? LOL
I wonder if they will try and get people to the moon or beyond. Russia, USA, Iran...who else it trying to improve the Space program?
OPINION:
I don’t think the USA will be involved in a new war before the next election unless we are attacked first.
However, another country (or countries) may not wait for our next President.
Anyway, pure speculation on my part.
Time will tell.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they just copied the V2.”
What, like we did?
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