LibriumArcana.Games

Time.Uk

[quote]Iran has claimed success in launching its first home-built satellite into orbit, using a rocket which the West believes is part of its long-term ballistic missile programme.

Until official satellite spotters confirm Tehran’s claim, made by President Ahmadinejad, the Iranian leader, on state television, the announcement will be treated with a degree of scepticism. The first two attempts at launching an Iranian-built satellite, in February and August last year, failed.

If the Iranian President’s claim turns out to be true, however, it will provide further proof of Tehran’s growing ability to master the technology for developing a long-range ballistic missile.

Despite Mr Ahmadinejad’s insistence that the satellite mission was purely for peaceful purposes, experts said there was an undeniable link between the rocket launch and Iran’s military programme.
Related Links

* ‘Jimmy Carter’ tag has Obama wincing

* Iraqi fear of Iran on the rise, despite new airport

Duncan Lennox, editor of Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, said: “Iran is just following what the United States, Russia and China did in the early stages of their missile programmes, transferring the technology from satellite launches to ballistic missiles.â€

But we have no confirmation, so thus far it's just smoke and mirrors.

Shoot, I was planning to post that yesterday.

Yes, it's pretty much cause for concern.

Actually Tev NASA has confirmed and is tracking the sat. I'll try to dig up a link.

And good old Space.com comes through citing US military tracking data and even giving us more exact stats.

This will sound odd.

I fully endorse this. I hope the Iranians follow through with building an orbital network for communications, disaster relief, and of course, national penis waving.

Shit's expensive, and every dollar into a commsat is a dollar not into the military.

$10 bucks says they just use this as a military test bed.

Sucker-bet, Frigid.