Tehran Night from Space

Tehran lights and the Caspian Sea visible from the space through clouds. 21 July 2013. Photo taken by Karen L. Nyberg, American astronaut. She is currently in Expedition 36 on the International Space Station.

(@AstroKarenN) ‪pic.twitter.com/N2ZHLpJGJM

Tehran Seen from Space - Tonight

Photo credit: Canadian astronaut Chris Hatfield, who is currently living in space aboard International Space Station, tonight has uploaded an amazing picture from Tehran on Twitter. [@Cmdr_Hasfield]

In case you wonder what the bright blue oval is: it’s an airport. Two runways with a ring road around it (please see the Google Earth image below).

Our own Mark Pyruz has identified the airport as the old Ghaleh Morghi Airport, not being used as an airfield anymore. But why so much light? 

Iran launches third satellite into space

According to Space.com:

Iran launched a small Earth-observing satellite into orbit today (Feb. 3), marking the country's first successful mission since a failed attempt to put a monkey in space last year, according to state news reports.


The Iranian Space Agency launched the new "Promise of Science and Industry" satellite into orbit today using a Safir 1-B rocket, according to a translation of a statement posted to the agency's Farsi-language website. Safir means "Ambassador" in Farsi.


The new Iranian satellite weighs about 110 pounds (50 kilograms) and was built by students at the Sharif University of Technology, according to a report by Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency.


According to the Iranian Space Agency, the satellite is shaped like a cube that is nearly 20 inches (50 centimeters) wide. It is circling Earth in an elliptical orbit and passes over Iran six times a day. The satellite will fly a two-month mission and is controlled via five ground stations, one each in the cities of Karaj, Tabriz, Qeshm, Bushehr and Mashhad, Iranian space officials said.

Above: The Navid-e Elm-o Sanat satellite

Video:


Video: PressTV
YouTube rendering: maydayfire @IMF
Photo: Mehr News Agency

Omid: Day three in orbit - Video

Additional video of Iran's space launch

Iran reportedly launches first home made satellite into space

According to PressTV:

Iran has successfully placed its first domestic research satellite into orbit, ushering in an era of independence in its space program.

Press TV has received confirmation that the first domestic Iranian satellite has been placed into orbit via two carrier rockets.

Iran’s Projected Satellite Launch

From Fars News Agency:

Iran plans to launch a satellite into space soon using an Iranian-made rocket, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

Iran has in the past launched satellites using rockets built by other nations, but this was the first announcement of such a launch with an all-Iranian made rocket.

Addressing a meeting with a group of Iranian expatriates in New York, where the Iranian president is attending the 63rd UN General Assembly session, Ahmadinejad said the rocket will have 16 engines and will take a satellite some 430 miles into space.

The satellite will likely be a commercial one for communication or meteorological research purposes. Iran has never announced plans to launch military satellites.

Earlier this month, Tehran announced that a joint research satellite built by Iran, China and Thailand, was sent into orbit by a Chinese-made rocket. At the time, Iranian officials said the three countries suffer from natural disasters and that the satellite would transmit photos to help deal with such crises.

Tehran sent its first commercial satellite into space on a Russian rocket in 2005. Last month, Iran tested a rocket which it hopes will one day carry an all-Iranian research satellite.

There were no details about what type of satellite the rocket would carry, and Ahmadinejad gave no time frame for the plan.

Above photos: the new second stage engines for the Safir.

Safir Rocket Launch Video

Iran Launches Space Rocket

Kavoushgar-1 Lauched into Space

(Photo: Ettelaat)

Iran today launched its first space research rocket. The rocket is codenamed “Kavoushgar 1” (Explorer 1). The launch was broadcast live on IRIB, Iran’s state-run TV network. ISNA reported that the rocket was launched from a desert location near Semnan.

Iran’s first space center was also inaugurated during a ceremony attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The space center contains the launch pad for space rockets.

The centerpiece of the space center will be a domestically-developed research satellite, named “Omid” (Hope). Omid will be launched from the space center, making Iran only the 11th country with technology to launch a satellite into space. The launch date for Omid Satellite has not been disclosed, although media reports indicated the satellite would be launched in the coming months. The test firing of Kavoushgar 1 today was an essential step into launching the satellite aboard a similar rocket. Omid will be set at a low orbit.

The new space center will also house an underground control station with tracking, control and communication equipment required to launch space rockets and satellites.

In October 2005, a Russian rocket launched Iran's first satellite, Sina-1, which carried telecommunications equipment.

Today’s launch shows Iran’s rapid advancement in developing rocket technology and long-range ballistic missiles.

The White House called the launch “unfortunate.” The White House spokeswoman said Iran will “further isolate itself” within the international community.


The launch of space rocket comes on the eve of 29th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran.