Early Friday, Iran sent a small satellite into space as part of the government’s ambitious space program. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hopes the launch will “send a signal of more friendship” in the international community, though the West has shown concerns over possible military applications of Iran’s space technology.
The IRNA news agency reported that the locally-made satellite, Navid, or Gospel in English, is intended to gather meteorological data and monitor natural calamities. Weighing 110 pounds (50 kilograms) , the satellite operates at a maximum altitude of up to 234 miles (375 kilometers), moving around Earth 15 times a day. Navis is an example of miniaturized or micro satellite. This type of satellite is cheaper to make and requires less expensive launch vehicles.
Made at a local engineering university, Gospel is the third small satellite launched by Iran in recent years. The satellite is expected to remain in orbit for two months. The satellite features advanced control capacity, photocells and high-resolution camera.
Safir was the name of the launch vehicle used to carry the satellite into the space from Farsi. It has 20% more launch power compared with predecessor carrier missiles, reported IRNA. The missile is reportedly a ballistic missile which can be remodelled into an intercontinental missile.
The White House said the rocket was critical to the creation of long-range ballistic missile. Its use is a violation of a UN resolution prohibiting Iran from using ballistic missile technology for space launches, warns the US government.
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