Iran successfully launches new satellite into orbit

Iran successfully launches new 'Navid-e Elm-o Sanat' satellite into orbit on February 3, 2012.

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/224625.html

The Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully launched its domestically-built Navid-e Elm-o Sanat satellite into orbit following a decree by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The satellite, completely designed and built by Iranian experts, blasted into orbit late Thursday on the third day of the 10-Day Dawn celebrations, marking the 33th anniversary of the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The 50-kilogram orbiter lifted off into space with an orbital angle of 55 degrees on the Iranian-made Safir satellite-carrier.

Head of Iran Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli said the domestically-built Navid satellite will circle the Earth at altitudes between 250 and 370 kilometers.

He added that the remote-sensing observation satellite is designed to take hi-res pictures of the globe.

The ISA chief noted that the satellite will also collect data on weather conditions, which comes in handy for weather forecasts and management of natural disasters.

Fazeli further said that the satellite is expected to orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes and send images to ground stations.

Navid-e Elm-o Sanat is a telecom, measurement and scientific satellite whose records could be used in a wide range of fields.

Iran launched its first domestically-produced satellite, Omid (hope), into orbit in 2009.

The Omid data-processing satellite was designed to orbit the Earth 15 times every 24 hours and transmit data via two frequency bands and eight antennas to an Iranian space station.

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.