Iran to launch communications satellite with Italy
Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
12:30GMT—7:30AM/EST
Washington, 10 November (WashingtonTV)—The head of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization announced on Tuesday that his agency will use Italy to launch a communications satellite, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
General Mehdi Farahi said that he hoped the satellite would be launched before the end of the Iranian calendar year 1390 [year ending 19 March 2012].
The design and building of the satellite, now named Mesbah, began in 1977, and after a 19-year delay, the project was resumed in 1996, and was scheduled to be finalized in 2011, Mehr news reported.
The satellite was first displayed in 2005, and at the time, Iran said it would be launched that year with Russia’s assistance, according to the Associated Press.
Farahi gave no reason for the switch away from Russia. But in February, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad complained about Moscow’s continuing failure in launching the satellite, reports AP.
He said that the satellite is designed to travel in low-earth orbit and will assist in data communication over a three-year period.
Iran launched its first research satellite, named Omid, into orbit in February. That satellite completed its mission after orbiting the Earth for three months.
Sources: Mehr news agency, Associated Press
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