Iran launches rocket, unveils satellites

Iran announced it has successfully launched a research rocket. It also unveiled a new domestically built satellite carrier engine and three satellites.

Iranian state television broadcast images of its rocket launch.

The Kavoshgar 3, which means Explore 3 in Farsi, is carrying a mouse, two turtles and about a dozen worms inside a capsule.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was on hand at a ceremony to commemorate the achievement and had this to say.

An image grab taken on February 3, 2010 from Iran's English- language official Press TV station shows graphic illustrations of the Kavoshgar 3 satellite rocket launch. (AFP/PRESS TV)