The Iranian Satellite Rocket Saga
Written by Ian O'Neill
Iran has some big ambitions for space (Reuters)
On August 16th, Iran triumphantly announced that they had sent a rocket into space, transporting a "dummy" satellite into orbit. According to Iranian state TV, the night-time launch of the two-stage Safir-e Omid (or Ambassador of Peace) rocket was a resounding success, transmitting video of the launch amid cheers of delight. The nation has never hidden its space ambitions, and in 2005 Iran launched its first commercial satellite on board a Russian rocket. This confirmed concerns of Russia's co-operation with the Iranian government to bolster the country's space-faring ability. However, US officials have spoken out against Iranian claims that Saturday's launch went as planned; according to one official, Iran's launch was a "dramatic failure." Regardless, Iran appears to be upbeat about it's future in space, and today the Iranian Space Organization Chief has announced that Iran will launch a man into space within a decade…
Tensions between Iran and the West are edgy to say the least. For one, Iran's nuclear program is causing obvious upset in the region; neighbouring countries concerned the balance of power is shifting toward Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's regime. Israel, in particular, has traded threats with Iran, and its close proximity to Tehran (only 600 miles) only helps to intensify the distrust in the region. Now, if the Iranian claims are to be believed, Ahmadinejad is able to order the launch of domestically built satellites, but more worryingly, this sabre rattling shows to the world they are able to launch long-range ballistic missiles to wherever they like. Combine this missile capability with the pressing nuclear threat (although Iran maintains that the Uranium enrichment is for peaceful purposes only), and we have a huge politically unstable situation. The bad blood between the US and Iran is all too obvious, this will only help to increase tensions.
However, the Iranian celebrations may be short lived. It is notoriously difficult to gain any verification that Iran did launch a two-stage rocket into space, let alone carry a "dummy" satellite into orbit. Yesterday, US officials made an announcement claiming that Iran was falsifying the launch and that the rocket failed soon after launch. Looking at the Iranian news footage, we only see the first few seconds of launch, so these doubts are justified.
"The vehicle failed shortly after liftoff and in no way reached its intended position. It could be characterized as a dramatic failure [...] The failed launch shows that the purported Iranian space program is in its nascent stages at best — they have a long way to go." - Unnamed US official.
See the Iranian state TV footage of the Safir-e Omid launch (AP) »
Although a failed launch seems highly probable (as we all know, rocket science isn't easy!), prompting the Iranian government to distribute false information about the "successful" launch to save face, but the US official gives no indication about how the US authorities know the launch was a failure. I think it's going to be some time before these questions can be answered as neither side will want to reveal too much.
Regardless of the "did it launch or didn't it" debate, Iran has today announced some pretty lofty plans for their future in space. Iran wants to send a man into space. Within ten years.
According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, the Iranian Space Organization chief Reza Taghipour will set the exact date for a future manned mission within the year. Apparently, "Iran must win the first place in space technology in the region by the Iranian year of 1400 (the equivalent Christian year of 2021)," according to Xinhua (although it is unclear whether the Chinese source is quoting Taghipour or they are stating a fact). Iran also wants to launch a series of ten domestically-built satellites by 2010 to aid disaster relief operations.
Often it is hard to separate the facts from the fiction in the Middle East, but I can't help but think these invigorated Iranian space ambitions are a ploy to wield their exaggerated military might in the region. Whether the dummy satellite was put into orbit or not seems to be rather academic, the fallout from the Iranian claim and US counter-claim will have severe consequences for US-Iran relations…
Sources: Space, Reuters, Xinhua
Filed under: Space Flight
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
I don't agree at all with your belief that we would struck Iran if we were not in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US has plenty of assets left over to devestate Iran but it's not in our interest and this administration has pursued diplomacy with Iran and N Korea.
I don't have a problem with the term neocons normally but its now invoked by people who don't really keep up on events or think from all sides about an event. It's become a buzz word for knee jerk Bush haters.
I'd also point out that most of the "neocons" have left government or have lost influence. This was very well document since Rumsfeld left.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I watch events very closely. The only reason that this criminal bunch have not faced prosecution for their crimes is that they have padded the DOJ with Bush admin devotees (Alberto Gonzalez scandal), the Supreme Court with toe-the-line conservatives, covered up the Valerie Plame scandal's evidence, and from day one had an almost cult-like selectiveness in the administration's cabinet.
They've got a great deal of love from Fox News and the other right-wing media adherents who have encouraged millions of Americans to turn a blind eye. Nixon has got to be rolling in his grave to consider the kinds of things they've been able to get away with. He got popped for a petty burglary. These people routinely torture, invent evidence to bring the nation to war, violate the Constitutional rights of Americans, and smile and acknowledge it all openly.
Although the number who still buy the BS is declining steadily (support is down to around 30% or lower).
Don't get me wrong - I don't think the Democrats are really any better, only that this current adminstration has been particularly aggregious in their activities. The Democrats voted for the war, they continue to vote to fund it and continue it, and they've toed the line on basically every invasion of privacy /anti-civil liberty law that's been introduced in the last 7 years.
The problem is that both parties are essentially controlled by the massive amounts of campaign contributions that they receive. You don't pay millions to a candidate without expecting something in return. I'm not advocating third parties (they'll never win!) but it would be nice if we could abolish parties altogether and vote for the candidate's stance on the issues, not a D or R beside their name. Limiting the amount you can spend on a campaign to a reasonable amount would help too.
The current admin is basically "dead in the water" in expanding the powers of government and committing new atrocities, but the fact remains that they have not been held liable in the least. The ones who have left were scapegoats forced to resign.
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 pm
And yes, it is currently impossible to instigate a ground war with Iran, without removing troops from posts worldwide and destabilizing other regions. We could bomb the hell out of them if we chose ("bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" as McCain so eloquently sang to the tune of the Beach Boys.
But there's no way we could win a ground war against them without freeing up troops from the Iraq war.
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I think its great that Iran is starting a space program, the ancient Persians 1000 years ago made great advances in astronomy, I feel that the negative media directed at Iran is unjustified as it doesn't reflect the opinions and feelings of the general people who happen to be really warm and friendly and the translation for the "wipe off the map" was actually mistranslated, it was something like "remove the zionist regime from the pages of time". I'm guessing this comment was the result of the atrocities being committed by Israelis. So Iran might launch missiles from space but its alright for America to build space bombers that will be deployable in 2018? I fear that this century will be dedicated to more bloodshed and misery rather than hope and knowledge.