Iran’s Expanding Horizons in Outer Space
By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
The Islamic Republic, one of the ten countries to establish itself in outer space – thanks to the giant strides of its aerospace industries in manufacturing and launching orbiters – got another boost yesterday with the Iranian private sector sending for the first time its own locally-built satellites in orbit around the Earth.
“Kowsar” and “Hodhod”, launched 500 km afar from the Planet’s surface by a Russian Soyuz launch vehicle, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Siberia, is further proof of the rapidly expanding aerospace industries of Islamic Iran and its continued quest for the betterment of the nation.
Manufactured by young Iranian scientists at Omid Faza knowledge-based company, Kowsar is a high-resolution imaging satellite, while Hodhod is a small communications satellite.
Designed for more than three years of orbital service, Kowsar’s mission is to survey agricultural and other lands. Hodhod for its part has a lifespan of four years and has a variety of uses, including agriculture, land survey, transport and environmental protection.
Iran already has several satellites in outer space such as the research-sensing Pars 1, and Khayyam, whose tasks includes observation.
Last March Iran had placed the Chamran satellite into orbit on board its Qa’em Space Launch Vehicle (SLV).
With its technology rapidly expanding, Iran will be launching up to seven more satellites into space during the next five months, using Qa’em, and another domestically manufactured SLV named Simorgh.
These developments, which are entirely peaceful, have alarmed the US regime whose sanctions of the past 45 years have failed to deter Iran’s progress.
Unlike the Americans, the Islamic Republic does not believe in militarizing outer space to the detriment of the environment and ecology of Planet Earth.
Iran’s efforts, like in all other fields, are for peace and progress, and in line with the humanitarian aspirations of the Iranian and world people.
Its presence in outer space is also vital for safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, predicting environmental disasters, tracing underground and undersea resources for national development, and frustrating the evil designs of devilish powers.
With firm faith in the Almighty Creator and devotion in exploring for the benefit of humanity the wonders of the universe, the Islamic Republic of Iran is all set to expand its aerospace horizon.