Iran claims first launch of its own satellite
TEHERAN, Iran – Iran sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit, the president announced Tuesday, a key step for an ambitious space program that worries the U.S. and other world powers because the same rocket technology used to launch satellites can also deliver warheads.
For nearly a decade, Iran has sought to develop a national space program, creating unease among international leaders already concerned about its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The telecommunications satellite, called Omid, or hope in Farsi, was launched late Monday after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the order to proceed, according to a report on state radio. State television showed footage of what it said was the nighttime liftoff of the rocket carrying the satellite at an unidentified location in Iran.
The satellite was taken into orbit by a Safir-2, or ambassador-2, rocket, which was first tested in August and has a range of 155 miles. Iranian television said the satellite would orbit at an altitude of between 155 and 250 miles.
State radio said it is designed to circle the Earth 15 times during a 24-hour period and send reports to the space center in Iran. It has two frequency bands and eight antennas for transmitting data.
Ahmadinejad said the satellite reached its orbit and had made contact with ground stations, though not all of its functions were active yet. He said Iran would now seek to increase the ability of its satellite-carrier rockets to carry more weight.
Iran's space plans are lofty and even hold out the goal of putting a man in orbit within 10 years, though accomplishing that would be extremely expensive.
A domestic satellite program would put Iran in a growing club — more than 80 countries are building or planning to build their own satellites, according to Lewis. But the ability to launch them is a much more exclusive crowd; only nine countries have done so.
In 2005, Iran launched its first commercial satellite on a Russian rocket in a joint project with Moscow, which is a partner in transferring space technology to Iran along with North Korea and China. That same year, the government said it had allocated $500 million for space projects in the next five years.
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. [AP]
Tentu sebagai muslim, saya turut bergembira atas keberhasilan Iran, salah satu negara Islam yang berusaha untuk mandiri dan berpijak pada kekuatan sendiri (memang sudah seharusnya seorang muslim pun begitu). Setelah sukses mengembangkan program pengayaan Uranium untuk sumber energi baru, Iran menunjukkan keberhasilan lain di bidang aerospace. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa luar angkasa tidak hanya dominasi dari negara barat saja, tetapi juga semua negara berhak atas luar angkasa di atas negaranya sendiri. Saya jadi teringat, konon di atas Indonesia sana, sudah bercokol lebih dari 200 satelit milik negara lain dengan berbagai level teknologi. Hal ini dikarenakan posisi ruang angkasa di atas Indonesia yang katanya 'lebih nyaman' dan ideal untuk penempatan satelit. Sementara kita, orang Indonesia, tidak punya kekuasaan apa-apa untuk 'mengusir' para 'pengintip' dari langit Indonesia. Semoga ini menjadi ibroh dan pemicu semangat kita untuk giat belajar APAPUN untuk kemajuan Islam. Never Ending Study, Salut Iran, wa Allahu Akbar!
Comments
Post a Comment