‘Omid,’ the first satellite that is 100% made-in-Iran, has begun its journey into space – highlighting the progress made by the nuclear technology of the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The launch was made from a new base of unknown location. The launch also coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of the Islamic revolution of 1979, making some quarters suspect the symbolism for Ahmadinejad’s revolutionary ambitions.
As reported by Iranian state television, ‘Omid’ is designed to undertake research and provide telecommunications. The satellite’s purpose is to gather information and test equipment. Some have analyzed the situation as such that the long-range ballistic technology used to launch satellites into space can also be used for launching weapons. Iran maintains that its objective is not that.
Iran’s foreign minister insists that the intention of the space project is “peaceful” and that satellites are an essential means of gathering information about the weather, the environment, and for technology, agriculture, and economic projects. According to Ahmadinejad, the launch aims to spread peace and justice in the world.
The space trip of ‘Omid’ started just before the Western powers met in Frankfurt to discuss the dispute over Iran and its nuclear program. Although the UN has imposed new sanctions on Iran because the United States and other Western powers suspect Tehran has a secret program to build atomic weapons, the government of Ahmadinejad insists that the space project is limited only to power generation.
Via BBC
