Iran successfully launched the Rassad-1 homemade satellite

Iran's Al-Alam Arabic TV channel reported that the country on June 15 successfully launched the Rassad-1 homemade satellite (Observation) to orbit 260km from Earth.

This is the first Iranian satellite to take pictures and carry remote measuring equipment. It will be used in meteorology and used to define maritime boundaries. Satellite is launched into orbit by Safir boosters, also produced by Iran.

Rassad-1 satellite is one of four modern satellites being produced in the country, including Fajr (Dawn), Amirkabir 1 and Zafar (Victory) and Kavoshgar 4 (Exploration 4).

Iran's Rassad-1 homemade satellite. (Source: Presstv.ir ).

In February 2011, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled four new domestic satellite prototypes that the country hopes will launch before March 2012.

Earlier, Iran launched the first domestic-produced satellite, Omid (Hope) into orbit in 2009. Omid data-processing satellites were designed to orbit the Earth 15 times in a 24-hour cycle. , transmit data through two frequency bands and eight antenna systems to an Iranian space station.

Iran is one of 24 founding members of the United Nations Aerospace Peace Use Committee, established in 1959.