News

Iran has revealed the development of a new Simorgh
space booster and three new satellites that include an imaging
spacecraft that may provide Iran with a rudimentary space reconnaissance
capability.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
also indicated that Iran may be studying the use of its new space
capabilities for a rudimentary antisatellite weapons capability, by
noting that the new booster will enable Iran to fly missions up to 621
mi. (1,000 km.) altitude.

The new satellites set for launch include the Toloo (Dawn)
imaging satellite, a 220 lb. rectangular-shaped satellite that is the
largest of Iran's new spacecraft, which may be launched as early as this
month or in March, the Iranians said. The satellite will be launched
into a 300 mi. orbit and is designed to operate for three years and was
built by the Iran Electronics Industries Co. It may well be a
dual-use payload for civil and military ground imaging purposes. But
even a medium resolution system would enable Iran to better target
military sites in Israel, such as the Israeli Arrow anti-ballistic
missile facilities.

The second is the Navid (Good News) communications
satellite — this low altitude spacecraft has been developed, in p... >>>