Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 28 /Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/
Iran to launch one-ton satellites to space next year, Head of Iran's Aerospace industry organization Mehdi Farahi said, IRNA reported.
Farahi noted that within the 10-year plan, Iran will send several one-ton satellites into space. He added that country will launch the "Simorgh" rocket into orbit in approximately six months.
Simorgh is an Iranian expendable small-capacity orbital carrier rocket, which has a length of 27 metres (89 ft), and weight of 77 tonnes (85 tons).
Its first stage is powered by four main engines, each generating up to 29,000 kilograms (64,000 lb) of thrust, plus a fifth which will be used for attitude control, which provides an additional 13,600 kilograms (30,000 lb).
Simorgh is capable of putting a 60-kilogram (130 lb) payload into a 500-kilometre (310 mi) low Earth orbit. According to ISNA the engine could be used in future rockets capable of carrying 700-kilogram (1,500 lb) satellites into 1,000-kilometre (620 mi) orbits.
The first flight of the Simorgh rocket, which was at one stage scheduled to occur in March 2010, will carry Tolou (Rising) - an experimental communications satellite.
Tolou, which weighs less than 80 kg, would be placed at 400 km above the earth surface while it is to be sent by A2 or Simorgh orbital carrier rocket.
On February 3, Iran successfully launched its third domestically manufactured satellite, named the Navid (Promise), into orbit. On February 8, Iran received the first image sent by the Navid satellite.
Another domestically manufactured satellite, called Omid (Hope) was launched into orbit by Iran on February 2, 2009.