Iran test-fires satellite rocket: TV

TEHRAN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Iran Wednesday successfully test- fired a satellite rocket and unveiled three new satellites and a satellite carrier, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported.

Iran Wednesday successfully test- fired a satellite rocket, Press TV reported. (Xinhua/AFP, File Photo)

The report said the "Kavosh 3" (Explore 3) rocket carrying an " experimental capsule" has been successfully test-fired, but did not give more details.

Also on Wednesday, Iran unveiled three new satellites -- Tolou, Mesbah 2 and Navid -- which were designed and produced domestically, Press TV said.

In the inauguration ceremony attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian Aerospace Organization (IAO) also unveiled the country's first domestic satellite carrier engine, called Simorgh. The Mesbah 2 satellite, a low-orbit communications satellite, is currently under manufacture and no date has been set for the test- flight of the Mesbah 2 prototype, Press TV said.

On Feb. 3, 2009, Iran sent its first home-built satellite Omid (Hope) into orbit by the Iranian-produced satellite carrier Safir 2.

Iranian officials said Iran has plans to put a "series of satellites" into space by 2010 to aid natural disaster management programs and improve telecommunications.