Iran REALLY launches a satellite

[SiberianTiger]

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE5120NY20090203

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d803e48a-f1b6-11dd-9678-0000779fd2ac.html

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran launched its first home-made satellite into orbit on Tuesday, state television reported, displaying progress in space technology at a time of persistent international tension over its nuclear programme.


The Omid (Hope) satellite, sent into space as Iran marks the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution this month, was designed for research and telecommunications, said the television, which carried footage of the launch.

”In another achievement for Iranian scientists under sanctions, Iran launched its first home-made Hope satellite into orbit,” said the television.
It said the satellite was carried into orbit by the Iranian-made satellite carrier Safir.



”Omid will carry experimental satellite control devices, communications, digital equipment, power supply systems,” the television said.

To dissolve all possible doubts, there is a tracking data from NORAD:

33506 OBJECT A 2009-004A IRAN 2009-02-02 NULL (2009-004A i=55.55°, Hp=246 km, Hp=387 km, P=90.72 min )
33507 OBJECT B 2009-004B IRAN 2009-02-02 NULL (2009-004B i=55.55°, Hp=246 km, Ha=448 km, P=91.34 min)

It is reported that the next Iranian satellite will have animals on board.

P.S.: Such Is the Will of Allah...



-----Post Added-----


The video of the launch:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHKn-YtI_iM"]YouTube - Iran makes first satellite launch[/ame]

 

[Hielor]

Wonder what the launch azimuth was. I mean, did they do the safe thing and launch it southeast over the Indian ocean, or did they launch it straight east and right over their neighbors, which could've caused problems if it failed?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Wonder what the launch azimuth was. I mean, did they do the safe thing and launch it southeast over the Indian ocean, or did they launch it straight east and right over their neighbors, which could've caused problems if it failed?

I've read the azimuth was such that the track followed the coast of India in the SE direction, not crossing the coast line, so it feels consistent with the resulting 55° inclination (don't really know what the launch site was).

BTW, the video by the following link might be the right one, not the one I've posted above.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7866357.stm

I don't really know which video is more real.


-----Post Added-----


A page containing pictures of the launch and the rocket:
http://www.irinn.ir/Default.aspx?TabID=36&aid=2055

 

[Jarvitä]

Interesting. Are there any more details on the launcher/payload besides "It might be possible that it could probably be used as a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead they might be able to develop in the next ten years. Maybe."?

 

[cjp]

Well, congratulations to Iran, then.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Interesting. Are there any more details on the launcher/payload besides "It might be possible that it could probably be used as a ballistic missile with a nuclear warhead they might be able to develop in the next ten years. Maybe."?

Not much info is revealed. Maybe someone can read Farsi?

There's a picture of something that might be the satellite, though:

 

[tl8]

Guy on left: So if my mum finds my porn collection, I will shove the hard drives into these slots and send them to the sun.

 

[Urwumpe]

"And by shortening this resistor, we had finally been able to receive the Super Bowl with our TV set."

 

[n122vu]

"It's called a Mooninite, sir. We're going to place them under highway overpasses in the larger US cities and then sit back and laugh as they raise the local terror alerts and dispatch their bomb squads."

 

[SiberianTiger]

A detailed video report on the Iranian Omid satellite:

The same video, downloadable: http://www.irinn.ir/FileManager/Download.aspx?path=/Files/1/1387/bahman/15/15

Some numbers quoted about the launcher and the satellite:
The Satellite's mass 25 kg
The Rocket's Length 22 m
The Rocket's Launching Mass 27,000 kg

Looks like a Scud on steroids...

 

[Urwumpe]

Looks like a Scud on steroids...

It IS a Scud-D on steroids. Actually it is almost exactly the same kind of rocket, the North Koreans use, but the Iranians seem to be the first to use them successfully. :rofl:

 

[willy88]

Looks like a Scud on steroids...

Hint hint.

But, seriously, I have a bad feeling about Iran having satellite launch ability, not far away from the dreaded "ICBM". :huh:

 

[Ghostrider]

According to the official communiques, the Omid satellite's mission, among other stuff, is to spread "monotheism". Anyone knows the density of this stuff, so we can guess how much "monotheism" was packed into the bird? Do you think that "polytheism" would have massed too much for instance?

 

[Notebook]

Polytheism would probably have involved a Norwegian Blue. Did it have a parrot-support system on board?

N.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Hint hint.

It was not me! Really! :blush:

But, seriously, I have a bad feeling about Iran having satellite launch ability, not far away from the dreaded "ICBM". :huh:

I wonder, what would happen in a scenario when Iran launches an ICBM towards USA over the Northern pole? :huh: Will anybody care about Iran when NORAD detects one coming this way?..

 

[Urwumpe]

Anyone knows the density of this stuff, so we can guess how much "monotheism" was packed into the bird? Do you think that "polytheism" would have massed too much for instance?

I think polytheism is slightly less massive, because it is strictly modular.

I always hoped for Iran to get rid of their theocracy, but I think they have not understood me.

 

[MajorTom]

You guys are killing me... :rofl:

Is a 25-kg payload capability anything to be worried about? Say this was to be used as an ICBM, to hit a target thousands of miles away. Would its payload capacity be any higher for a non-orbital flight?

 

[Urwumpe]

You guys are killing me... :rofl:

Is a 25-kg payload capability anything to be worried about? Say this was to be used as an ICBM, to hit a target thousands of miles away. Would its payload capacity be any higher for a non-orbital flight?

Yes, during the early spacerace, the formula was eight-times more payload as ICBM, than as satellite launcher. But 200 kg is still far too low for a meaningful ICBM, it is rather an MRBM, along the lines of the Pershing.

Dangerous enough for some countries, if used like that. But unless China trades them US nuclear warhead knowledge, the best Iran could produce would be still heavier than the warheads of the established nuclear powers. And you can be sure, Russia will not sell this technology - Iran is a potential rival for the Kaukasus region.

It is nice equipping Iran for annoying USA and Israel, but not good enough for becoming annoying for Russia.

 

[Jarvitä]

Looks like a Scud on steroids...

Actually, it's more like a North Korean "Scud on stereoids" Nodong II on steroids. :rofl:

And I'm pretty sure the most that satellite can do to "spread monotheism" is broadcast the Iranian equivalent of the Believer's voice of victory.

 

[NukeET]

Looks like it is coming back a little early....

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=89125&sectionid=351020101