5 Iranian satellites to be launched to space soon

ILNA: Head of Iran Space Agency Hamid Fazeli informed press of near future launching of 3 more Iranian made satellites, Navid, Fajr, and Kavoshgar (Explorer) 5.

Fazeli who was speaking at the press conference in Ramsar added without presenting any further details on the new indigenous Iranian satellites, “During the upcoming Fajr 10-Day Celebrations (marking the victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution) this year, we would have a day named the Space Technology Day, for which we have plans underway.”

He elaborated on the achievements of the country in aerospace field, reiterating, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, thanks to the efforts made by the concerned officials and our dear researchers is now among the eight countries in the world which are capable designing, manufacturing, and launching satellites.”

Fazeli said that satellite making technology is the most significant achievements in the Islamic Republic’s modern space technology, adding, “The country’s Space Agency grew stronger thanks to the assistance of this government, and has thus far achieved satisfactory objectives.”

Fazeli had said in mid-June that Iran plans to launch a Kavoshgar-5 rocket with a 285-kilogram capsule carrying a monkey to an altitude of 120 kilometers (74 miles) were underway.

'Our scientists are exerting continuous efforts on this project... Our colleagues are busy with empirical studies and sub-system testing of this project so that it would be a cent percent sure success,' he said.

In mid-March, Iran's space organization announced the launch of the Kavoshgar-4 rocket carrier, a test capsule designed to house the monkey.

At the time, Fazeli called the launch of a large animal into space as the first step towards sending a man into space, which Tehran says is scheduled for 2020.

Iran has already sent small animals into space - a rat, turtles and worms - aboard a capsule carried by its Kavoshgar-3 rocket in 2010.