Iran launches home-made space missile: state TV
Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:28 AM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has launched a home-made missile capable of reaching space, Iran's state television Web site reported on Sunday, quoting an Iranian aerospace official.


The comments came a day after Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said the Islamic Republic was planning to build a satellite and launcher.

Iran launched its Sina-1 satellite into orbit from a Russian rocket on 2005 and has previously said it planned to modify its Shahab-3 missile to launch satellites.

"Iran has successfully launched its first space missile made by Iranian scientists," the head of Iran's aeropsace research center, named only as Dr Bahrami, was quoted as saying.

He said the missile was built by the aerospace center with the cooperation of the Defense and Science Ministries, but gave no further details.

The defense minister was quoted as saying by a newspaper as saying: "Building a satellite and satellite launcher, as well as (previously) launching the first Iranian satellite called Sina with Russian cooperation, and becoming a member of the space club, are part of the Defense Ministry's plans."

The daily Etemad-e Melli said the minister made the comments on Saturday.



　【追加】
Iran 'launches rocket into space'

Iran has successfully fired its first rocket into space, Iranian state television has announced.
It gave few details about the rocket or its range, but said that it had carried cargo intended for research.

Iran already has a civilian satellite programme but so far has relied on Russia to put its satellite into orbit.

The launch - if confirmed - comes at a time of mounting tension between Tehran and the West over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

"The first space rocket has been successfully launched into space," Iranian TV said.

It quoted the head of Iran's aerospace research centre, Mohsen Bahrami, as saying that "the rocket was carrying material intended for research created by the ministries of science and defence".

Concerns

In 2005, Iran's Russian-made satellite was put into orbit by a Russian rocket.

But soon afterwards Iranian military officials said they were preparing a satellite launch vehicle. Last month, they announced they were ready to test it soon, the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says.

The ballistic technology used is believed to be an extension of Iran's long-range Shahab-3 missile, our correspondent says.

She says that military experts believe that if Iran has sent a rocket into space it means scientists have mastered the technology needed to cross the atmospheric barrier.

In practice, they say, that means there is no technological block to Iran building longer range missiles now, something that will be of great international concern.

Our correspondent says the timing of this announcement is clearly confrontational - just as the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are about to meet to discuss the possibility of more sanctions over the nuclear issue.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6394387.stm

Published: 2007/02/25 10:50:14 GMT

? BBC MMVII



「イランが宇宙ロケット」と誤報騒ぎ　実は大気観測用
2007年02月26日22時02分

　イランがこのほど打ち上げた大気観測用の小型ロケットについて、イラン航空宇宙研究センターのバフラミ所長が24日の会合で「宇宙に向けてロケットを発射」と発言し、これを同国の国営テレビが報道。外国メディアも至急電で報じ、「イラン、初の宇宙ロケット発射成功」との記事が世界を駆け回る騒ぎになった。

　しかし、バフラミ所長の発言の後、同センターの副所長はイランの通信社に「（ロケットは）最大でも地上150キロまでしか上昇しない教育研究目的のもの」と述べ、「宇宙ロケット」の報道を否定。「軌道には残らず、パラシュートで地上に戻る」とし、大気観測用の通常業務だったと説明した。発射の日時、場所、発射したロケットの映像や写真も公表されていない。

　イランは05年、初の衛星「シナ１」をロシアのロケットで打ち上げ、軌道に乗せたとしている。

　独自の核開発問題で国連安全保障理事会による経済制裁を受けるイランが、大気圏外に到達するロケットを開発すれば、大陸間弾道ミサイル（ＩＣＢＭ）製造につながるとして欧米諸国は神経をとがらせている。だが、欧米の監視網による大型ロケット発射の情報は流れていない。（朝日新聞2007年２月27日付14版７面＝国際）