Iran announces successful launch of rocket into space

Iran fires research rocket not space missile - agency
Sun Feb 25, 2007 7:05 PM IST

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran has launched a sub-orbital rocket for scientific
research not a missile capable of reaching space as earlier reported, an
aerospace official told an Iranian news agency on Sunday.

Ali Akbar Golrou, the executive deputy of Iran's aerospace research centre,
told Fars News Agency the rocket would not stay in orbit but could rise to
about 150 km (94 miles) into atmosphere before falling to earth by
parachute.

State television's Web site had earlier quoted the head of the aerospace
research centre, Mohsen Bahrami, as saying Iran had fired a missile able
to reach space.

Iranian advances in building missiles capable of reaching space are watched
closely by the West because the same technology could be used to build
intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"What was announced by the head of the research centre was the news
of launching this sounding rocket," Golrou said, denying the earlier report.

-snip-

Feb. 25, 2007 10:57 | Updated Feb. 25, 2007 17:07
Iran: Rocket is for scientific research
By JPOST STAFF AND AP

Iran announced Sunday that the rocket they launched was not actually
intended to reach space, despite morning reports on Iran's state-run
television.

Apparently, the rocket launched was intended for scientific research only
and would not orbit earth with other satellites, but rather return to earth
after reaching an reach an altitude of 150 km.

The announcement contradicted earlier reports that Iran had successfully
tested what it called a rocket that had reached space. The report was
unclear, but appeared to refer to Iran's efforts to launch commercial
satellites into orbit.

-snip-

Iraqi attempt to develop a space launcher and a MRBM. The first stage consited of a cluster of five Al Abbas (Scud-C). Another Al Abbas formed the second satge, while the third stage was reported to be a derivative of the soviet SA-2 anti-aircraft missile. Only one test launch was conducted with the second and third stage beeing inert. The MRBM version would have been called Al Abeed.