Militarists in space

Iran launched a new rocket with several live animals aboard into space on  February 3, 2010  raising fresh fears over its nuclear ambitions. President Ahmadinejad also unveiled three domestically made satellites, a booster rocket that can carry a satellite and a study center for satellite data, local news media reported. Iran sent its first satellite into orbit  in 2009, marking the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. He said that Iran can defeat the west in the battle of technology and that it will soon send its own astronauts.

Satellites are used for a large number of purposes. Common types include military (spy) and civilian Earth observation satellites, communication satellites, navigation satellites, weather satellites, and research satellites. There are only 9 countries with an independent capability to place satellites in orbit, including production of the necessary launch vehicle: ex-USSR (now Russia and Ukraine), US, France, Japan, China, UK, India, Israel and Iran.  So space exploration programs are very very expensive. Who believes that Iran  spends millions of its poor budget only in the name of science? Western powers fear the same technology used to launch satellites and research capsules could also be used to build long-range intercontinental missiles and deliver warheads.

Tagged as: Iran, rocket, satellite