Iran flies test rocket for satellite launch, Space.com needs work on Persian

Logo of the Iranian Space Agency (سازمان فضایی ایران).

A small mistake here in their article on Iran's recent rocket launch:

Saturday's test of the two-stage rocket, called the Safir-e Omid, or Ambassador of Peace, was successful, state TV said, broadcasting images of the nighttime launch.

Safir-e-Omid (سفير اميد) actually means messenger of hope (omit is the same as the Turkish ümit).

That's quite besides the point, however. As always, the reasons given for having a space program are logical enough, and it just depends on implementation and how other countries are going to react, and Iran to them, and so on.

Iran has said it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation and improve its telecommunications. Iranian officials also point to America's use of satellites to monitor Afghanistan and Iraq and say they need similar abilities for their security.

Iran hopes to launch four more satellites by 2010, the government has said.