Iran to launch second research satellite in 2011

TEHRAN, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Head of Iran's Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), Mehdi Farahi, said Tuesday that Iran will launch its second research satellite in 2011, local satellite Press TV reported.

Iran has drawn up its final schedule to launch a semi-domestic research satellite as a part of Tehran's attempt for an independent space program, the report said.

"The completion of the semi-domestic research satellite dubbed Mesbah (Lantern) is another recent achievement of Iranian aerospace experts," Farahi was quoted as saying.

"Mesbah has a life-span of three years. It ... can gather information from various parts of the planet and transmit it back to earth," he said.

"Italy will cooperate with AIO to send Mesbah into space. We hope the launch will be carried out successfully in 2011," Farahi added.

The satellite is low earth orbiting (LEO) which can be located at orbits of 250 to 1,000 kilometers above the earth's surface. Mesbah will weigh 63.5 kg, some 2 times of Iran's Omid satellite, according to the report.

In February, Tehran launched its first lightweight Omid telecommunications satellite, its first home-made satellite, successfully into space by the Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2.

The U.S. administration of President Barack Obama linked Iran's new developments with its nuclear disputes and viewed Tehran's efforts to develop nuclear capability.

Also, Israel urged that the international community should tighten sanctions on Iran in light of its launch of the first home-made satellite.