Tehran: Iran will unveil three new
satellites in February, a report said on Wednesday, amid Western
concerns that Tehran is using its nuclear and space industries
to develop atomic and ballistic weapons.
ISNA news agency quoted Communications Minister Reza
Taghipour as saying that one of the three home-built
communications satellites is still under construction.
Taghipour named the three satellites as Toloo (Dawn), Ya
Mahdi and Mesbah-2, but did not elaborate on exactly when they
would be launched.
Ya Mahdi, Taghipour said as quoted by ISNA, was an
"experimental satellite" and the launch would be for testing
camera and telecommunications equipment.
Mesbah-2, which is under construction, "is a low-orbit
telecommunication satellite for storing and sending messages,"
he said.
"It can do different tasks, not as a 24-hour link, but it
can be used for limited communication applications."
Iran's defence minister Ahmad Vahidi said today that
Toloo is a "reconnaissance satellite," ISNA reported.
Vahidi had previously said Toloo would be unveiled during
celebrations in early February marking the 31st anniversary of
the Islamic revolution.
He said last month that Toloo was designed by Sa Iran,
also known as Iran Electronics Industries, an affiliate
company of the defence ministry.
"Needs of armed forces in operations are met with local
and reliable equipment of the defence industries of this
ministry," Vahidi was quoted as saying.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 19:16