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Analysis: Putting Iran's first homemade satellite launch into perspective | Jerusalem Post Page 1 of 2

Analysis: Putting Iran's first homemade satellite launch into


perspective
Feb. 15, 2009
YIFTAH SHAPIR , THE JERUSALEM POST

On February 3, Iran successfully launched its first entirely homemade satellite. The satellite, called Omid ("hope"), was
carried by a Safir 2 rocket from the space center in Semnan province, southeast of Teheran. The launch was timed to
coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
The Omid is a small research satellite. According to Iranian spokesmen, it carries telecommunications and telemetry
equipment, as well as what is referred to as remote sensory devices and a geographic information system.
From this it can be concluded that the satellite also carries a small camera. It entered orbit at an altitude of 252.7-384.5
kilometers, with an inclination of 55 degrees, and orbits the earth once every 90.8 minutes.
Iran said the satellite was scheduled to remain in orbit for about three months. Western monitoring stations that measured
its orbit estimated that it would return to the atmosphere in June or July. The satellite's weight is unknown, but probably
does not exceed a few dozen kilograms.
The satellite is undoubtedly a great success for Teheran. Its launch demonstrates that the Iranian space industry possesses
extremely impressive technological capabilities, mostly in missile technology. The Safir 2 is a liquid fuel-powered two-stage
satellite launcher (it may also have a small third stage for putting the satellite into orbit). Its successful use demonstrates the
capability to fire, manage and separate the rocket stages. It also shows an independent capability to construct, launch and
control satellites.
Iranian spokesmen stressed that the Omid was designed for research and was not a military satellite, and furthermore that
the entire Iranian satellite program was for peaceful purposes. They took the opportunity to describe Iran's plans in outer
space for the near and distant future. In the context of these plans, the Omid functions mainly as an experimental satellite to
prepare the way for a series of satellites of various types scheduled for launch in the coming decade. The most ambitious goal
presented was sending an Iranian astronaut into space by 2021.
Plans in the short term include the Mesbah satellite built for Teheran by an Italian company, which was originally scheduled
for launch in 2005. Development of the Besharat, a joint satellite project of Iran and all the member countries of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference, was also announced.
Western commentators quickly voiced great concern about the Omid launch. A White House spokesman expressed concern
that Teheran was threatening the security of Israel by launching the satellite, and said the US was not convinced that Iran
was acting responsibly to promote stability in the region. Similar sentiments were voiced in London, Paris and, needless to
say, Israel.
The real concern is that satellite launch technology is similar to that required to launch ballistic missiles. A missile capable of
carrying a load of several dozen kilograms is also capable of carrying several hundred kilograms for distances of thousands
of kilometers. This means that Iran can threaten Western Europe.
Although this assessment is technologically correct, and despite the fact that Iran's hostile attitude toward Israel means that
Jerusalem must prepare for the possibility, however unlikely, that these launchers will be used for military purposes, it is
important to also present counter arguments.
First, satellite launchers are not military missiles. They are complex, cumbersome and require lengthy preparation for
launch. They are also usually not made in large production series, because there is no need to establish an operational
inventory.
Second, from an organizational perspective, the satellite project probably belongs to a civilian entity, not a military one. The
person most interviewed following the Omid launch was Iran Aerospace Industries Organization head Reza Taghipour, not
Minister of Defense Mostafa Mohammad Najjar.
Third, Iran appears genuinely interested in an advanced satellite program. Beyond the benefit derived from satellites - in
both civilian spheres such as locating resources, dealing with natural disasters, telecommunications and so on, and in

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Analysis: Putting Iran's first homemade satellite launch into perspective | Jerusalem Post Page 2 of 2

military applications, such as imagery intelligence gathering - the very existence of the program involves an extremely
important element of prestige. It demonstrates Iran's technological superiority, in comparison with other countries in the
region, its ability to compete on equal terms with developed Western countries (Europe and the US), and its consequent
ability to challenge Israel's technological superiority.
Finally, Iran has had a military missile program for a long time, and the range of its Shihab-3 missile has covered Israel for
at least a decade. From this standpoint, the inherent threat of the solid-fuel Sejil missile, whose first trial took place in
November and is probably designed for military purposes, is much more serious than the direct threat stemming from the
Iranian space program.
Yiftah Shapir is head of the Middle East Military Balance project at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security
Studies.

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