Iran to orbit 5-6 telecom satellites 'soon'
20:22, 7 May 2010
MOSCOW. May 7. KAZINFORM Tehran is planning to launch up to six satellites in the near future, Fars news agency quoted Iranian Telecommunications Minister Reza Taqipour as saying on Friday; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
"We are currently carrying out a project that will see... the launch of five to six satellites," he said. "We hope to send one satellite into space in the first half of the coming year."
He said Iran had made significant progress in developing its aerospace industry over the past three to four years, mentioning in particular the launch of the indigenous satellite Omid (Hope) in February.
Since launching the Omid, Tehran has unveiled three new satellites (Tolou, Mesbah II and Navid) and one carrier rocket.
Taqipour also said Iran was planning to build new launch pads; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
See www.en.rian.ru