@@ Iran now has a limited space reconnaissance capability @@
- From: "Arash" <A7000@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 19:30:31 -0500
Associated Press (AP)
November 16, 2005
Iran Satellite Can Spy on Israel
http://www.cbsnews.com/images/2005/11/16/imageXHS10611161527.jpg
Deputy Telecom Minister Ahmad Taleb-zadeh
Tehran -- The launch of the Russian-made satellite into orbit aboard a Russian rocket
last month marked the beginning of Iran's space program. Officials say a second
satellite this one Iranian-built will be launched in about two months.
The Sina-1's stated purpose is to take pictures of Iran and to monitor natural
disasters in the earthquake-prone nation. Sina-1, with a three-year lifetime, has a
resolution precision of about 50 meters (Western spy satellites have centimeter
resolutions).
But as it orbits the Earth some 14 times a day from an altitude around 600 miles (965
kilometers), with controllers able to point its cameras as they wish, Sina-1 gives
Iran a limited space reconnaissance capability.
"Sina-1 is a research satellite. It's not possible to use it for military purposes",
said Deputy Telecom Minister Ahmad Talebzadeh, who heads the space program.
But he agreed it could spy on Israel. "Technically speaking, yes. It can monitor
Israel", he told The Associated Press. "But we don't need to do it. You can buy
satellite photos of Israeli streets from the open market".
The Russian company Polyot built the 375-pound (170-kg) satellite for Iran, but Iran
had already developed the necessary infrastructure for its space program. The program
represents Tehran's drive to prove it can produce advanced technology on its own.
The satellites could be a response to Israel's Ofek-5 spy satellite. The Ofek-5,
launched in 2002, over-flies Iran. Israel hoped a more sophisticated Ofek-6 satellite
would enhance its coverage of Iran, but in 2004 the satellite plummeted into the
Mediterranean Sea shortly after launch.
Iran's launch of the Sina-1 from the Plesetsk launch pad in northern Russia was a
major step in the country's long-term ambitions.
"That we've joined countries enjoying space technology is a tremendous achievement",
said Talebzadeh. "Although Sina-1 has been built by Russia, Iran's technicians have
learned a lot about satellite building and space".
He said Iran will launch its domestically built satellite, known as Mesbah, into
orbit in a month or two, also from Russia. Iran used Italian technology to build
Mesbah, which like Sina-1 is a reconnaissance satellite that Iran says will be used
to monitor natural phenomena on its own territory.
"Mesbah is ready for launch now", Talebzadeh said.
Iran's next step will be the launch of a satellite on an indigenous rocket.
Iranian officials have said the country has been developing a Shahab-4 missile that
will be used to launch a satellite into space. Iran has already upgraded its Shahab-3
missile, which now has a range of more than 1240 miles (2000 kilometers). Authorities
have not given details on when the Shahab-4 will be ready.
In January, Iran signed a $132 million deal with a Russian firm to build and launch a
telecommunications satellite called Zohreh, or Venus. Its launch is planned within
the next two years.
That satellite will facilitate communications in remote parts of Iran, increase the
number of land and mobile telephone lines, boost Internet service and improve radio
and television coverage.
Iran plans to launch four more satellites by 2010 to increase the number of land and
mobile telephone lines to 80 million from 22 million, and Internet users to 35
million from 5.5 million in the next five years.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/16/ap/world/mainD8DTPV600.shtml
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