Iran to launch new satellite soon

Iran is to finally launch a long-anticipated satellite into space, according to a senior official in the administration.

Sourena Sattari, who serves as vice-president for science and technology affairs, said Sunday that Iran would launch the indigenously built satellite in a “matter of days”.

The official did not elaborate on further details, but the planned launch might come on February 3, which is marked every year as Iran’s National Day of Aerospace Technology.

He said that experts would announce technical specifications of the satellite before the launch starts.

The Presidential Department for Science and Technology, which is separate from Iran’s Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and under direct supervision of the president, is to take charge of Iran’s aerospace activities in near future.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations’ Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space which was set up in 1959.