Iran inaugurates space terminal and launches research rocket

Iran conducted a successful test launch of what it has publicly identified as the Kavoshgar 1 (Explorer 1) research rocket on 4 February - the same day it inaugurated its first domestically constructed 'space terminal'.

While Iranian news sources identify the location from which the launch occurred as being near Semnan, they are unclear as to whether this is also the site of the new space centre, although this would seem to be probable.

The city of Semnan is located approximately 175 km east of Tehran. To the southeast of the city is a missile development and test facility (reportedly located at 35 23 24 N, 53 44 03 E) that has been active since the mid-1980s. Initially the facility is reported to have worked on domestic rocket development during the early stages of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War and subsequently on the development of the Oghab rocket with Chinese assistance. More recently it has been associated with test launches of the Shahab missile system.

The space centre was inaugurated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Defence Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and senior military and civilian dignitaries. During his speech Ahmadinejad declared: "Our presence in space is a necessity... Any country that respects itself should control the most advanced technology... we are grateful to God for witnessing the first and determined step towards an Iranian satellite."

Image: Iran launched the Kavoshgar 1 rocket on 4 February (Iranian state TV) 227 of 731 words