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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Iran planning to send astronaut into space |
2009-10-05 |
After a series of breakthroughs in space research and technology, Iran sets the wheels turning on plans to send its first astronaut into orbit. Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Reza Taqipour, said Wednesday that scientists are exploring ways to implement preliminary plans to launch a manned mission into space. "We have a clear outline of the plans, but at the same time we are aware that implementing our plans depend on a broad national participation," Taqipour told Mehrnews on Saturday. Earlier in February, Iran went down in history for placing its domestically-made satellite into orbit and thus joining a small group of countries that have the ability of both producing satellites and sending them into space using domestic launchers. The Omid data-processing satellite was designed to circle the Earth 15 times every 24 hours and to transmit data via two frequency bands and eight antennas to an Iranian space station. With a full mission accomplished, Omid went up in flames in late March after successfully ending its 50-day orbit around space. Iran's space breakthrough came as a big surprise for European powers and the US, mainly because the country has been under Western sanctions for nearly 30 years. MIT scientist Geoffrey Forden said Iran's breakthrough in space research and technology is to such an extent that the country "could get a person up into low-Earth orbit certainly within the next few years, at the rate they're going." Forden, a former inspector with the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), said Iran has designed the Omid data-processing satellite using state-of-the-art technology such as more efficient hydrazine fuel. "If Iran really has developed more advanced rockets that can burn more efficient fuel, then it is a step closer to launching people into space," Forden said in an article in New Scientist. |
Posted by:Fred |
#10 A launch which will put some `martyr` alot closer to those 72 vestial doe-eyed virgins. |
Posted by: BigEd 2009-10-05 18:43 |
#9 note they did not say anything about the 'astronauts' living through the experience. much easier to do that way |
Posted by: abu do you love 2009-10-05 16:03 |
#8 Next stop: SECRET MOON BASE! |
Posted by: mojo 2009-10-05 14:11 |
#7 Spam in a can. |
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-10-05 12:02 |
#6 plans to send its first astronaut into orbit. Imadinnerjacket is already there most days. |
Posted by: Woozle Uneter9007 2009-10-05 12:00 |
#5 Slim Pickens working for Iran now? |
Posted by: HammerHead 2009-10-05 10:31 |
#4 Iran's having trouble with it's proximity fusing? Image flashes through my head of Slim Pickens riding the Bomb to its target. |
Posted by: Glenmore 2009-10-05 08:50 |
#3 An Orion type using suicide boomers for motive power? |
Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-10-05 06:34 |
#2 Shahids in Space. |
Posted by: phil_b 2009-10-05 00:31 |
#1 Gawd... pity the poor bastard chosen for their first flight... |
Posted by: 3dc 2009-10-05 00:13 |