Russia to Launch Iran’s First Ever Satellite

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/10/...atellite.shtml

Russia to Launch Iran’s First Ever Satellite

Created: 23.10.2005 12:08 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 12:08 MSK

MosNews

Russia will put Iran’s first ever satellite into space next week, with the device described as being for telecommunications and research on natural disasters, AFP reported Saturday.

Quoted by the Kayhan newspaper, Iran’s embassy in Moscow said the “Sina” satellite would be launched from the Plesetsk launch site on Thursday along with three other devices from Russia, China and Britain.

Iranian officials have repeatedly said they were on the verge of seeing their first satellite launched.

In July, former deputy communications minister Hassan Shafti said a telecommunications satellite codenamed “Mesbah” (Lantern) would be launched this year.

He said that out of five Iranian satellites planned for construction, three are to be launched over the next three years.

Iran has been making continued progress in ballistics, a source of concern in the West along with the country’s nuclear program.