Iran Planning 2-Satellite Launch Early 2011

Iran says it plans to launch two new domestically-manufactured satellites called “Fajr and Rasad” prior to 21 March 2011, according to the Tehran Times in reporting the remarks of Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

The target launch date is the 32nd anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution which falls on February 11, 2011. 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.

The Iranians seek to improve fuel systems and satellite durability for longer-term utilization. The Fajr (Dawn) satellite is a "reconnaissance satellite" that would operate on solar energy. The Rasad 1 (Observation) satellite will be operated by the communication ministry.

After launching its first domestically-manufactured satellite named Omid (Hope) in 2009, Iran continues to advance forward in booster production and satellite manufacturing. The country sent the first biocapsule of living creatures into space in February 2010, using its home-made Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) carrier. Simorgh (Phoenix) is the name reportedly given the new generation of home-made satellites and a new satellite carrier made-in Iran.

The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has previously indicated that it was pursing the development of human-rated space capsule capability by 2024, according to the FARS News Agency.

“According to the president’s order and (by) carrying out preliminary studies, sending astronauts into space will be done in a ten-year period (plan), ISA spokesperson Mohammad Mardani said.