Iran will launch the satellite "Fajr" into orbit by the end of the calendar year Hijra (the year starts on March 20), Iranian Minister of Communications and Technology Reza Tagipur was quoted by IRNA news agency.
He added that it is likely to be launched in February in honor of the anniversary of Islamic revolution.
Iran successfully launched Kaveshgyar-1 missile ("Explorer") on February 4, 2008, used to collect research data and place the first national satellite in orbit. A solemn presentation of the first Iranian satellite "Omid" intended for research purposes in space and capable of flying in low Earth orbits was held the same day.
Tehran announced that it conducted a successful test launch of carrier "Messenger of Hope" on August 17, 2008. The model of the first national satellite was launched into orbit thanks tothis carrier. Tagipur said that Iran will launch a few satellites of its own production into space till 2010.
Iranian first national satellite Omid (Hope) was successfully launched into orbit in 2009 through the Iranian rocket Safir-2 "(" Messenger ") on February 2. In fact, Iran has become the eighth country in the world (after Russia, US, France, China, India, Japan and Israel), capable to conduct space launches.