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Iran to send 3 satellites into space Saturday: Iran Space Agency

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Director of Iran Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli says the Islamic Republic plans to send three indigenous satellites into space on Saturday, February 2, 2013.

Fazeli said at a press conference on Wednesday that Nahid, Qaem and Fajr satellites will be launched into orbit on Saturday on National Space Technology Day, Mehr news agency reported.

He also said that Iran plans to launch Sharifsat by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (ending March 20, 2013). The Iranian official said that Toloo’ satellite will also be launched into orbit in the near future.

Iran successfully launched its first indigenous data-processing satellite Omid (Hope) into orbit in 2009.

As part of a plan to develop its space program, Iran successfully launched its second satellite, dubbed Rassad (Observation), into orbit in June 2011. Rassad’s mission was to take images of the Earth and transmit them along with telemetry information to ground stations.

Iran also launched its indigenous Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (Harbinger of Science and Industry) satellite into orbit in February 2012. The records made by the telecom, measurement and scientific satellite could be used in a wide range of fields.

On Monday, Iran also sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule as a prelude to sending humans into space.

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.

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