Tehran: Iran plans to launch three new domestically-manufactured satellites, Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi has said.
The satellites named Fajr (Dawn), Navid (Promise) and Tolou (Sunrise) will be launched during the current Iranian calendar year, which ends March 19, Vahidi was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.
Fajr will be sent into space by the Safir-e-Fajr satellite carrier, while Navid and Tolou will be mounted on the Simorgh carrier, the minister told Press TV.
Navid is a research satellite, designed by scientists at the University of Science and Technology in Tehran. It weighs 50 kg and can take pictures at low altitudes of about 250 km to 375 km.
The reports did not mention the profile of the other two satellites.
Iran launched its first domestically-manufactured satellite Omid (Hope) Feb 2, 2009. Tehran says it plans to send a man into space by 2020.
IANS
First Published: Sunday, November 13, 2011, 20:36