TEHRAN, Iran – Iran has successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit, the country's president announced Tuesday, claiming a significant step in an ambitious space program that has worried many international observers.
The 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.
A U.S. counterproliferation official confirmed that Iran launched a satellite. "How they intend to use it remains to be seen, and there is a possibility that we're witnessing satellite technology in this instance that isn't too far removed from Sputnik 1957," he said on condition of anonymity to speak about intelligence gathering. "And how long the satellite can actually remain functional is a question that remains, literally and figuratively, up in the air."
The 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.
A U.S. counterproliferation official confirmed that Iran launched a satellite. "How they intend to use it remains to be seen, and there is a possibility that we're witnessing satellite technology in this instance that isn't too far removed from Sputnik 1957," he said on condition of anonymity to speak about intelligence gathering. "And how long the satellite can actually remain functional is a question that remains, literally and figuratively, up in the air."
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