'Iran working on 10-year space project'

[Pasban]

An official with the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) says Tehran has started the first phase of a ten-year project aimed at sending the country's first astronaut into space.


Mohammad Mardani, ISA deputy head for space technology, said on Tuesday that the project had commenced following an official order from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"The first round of assessment studies on the astronaut project have been concluded and delivered to the ISA. The agency is now in the process of designing its first phase," Mardani told reporters at a news conference marking the International Space Week (October 4-10).

Mardani went on to say that the ISA had completed the construction of the Rasad 1 satellite and would send it into orbit by March next year.

“In the years to come, Iran will launch a joint satellite with nine members of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA)-Asia Pacific (AP),” he said, adding that Iran is now cooperating with some Islamic countries in the construction of a joint satellite.

According to Iranian officials, the country's Aerospace Organization kicked off a 12-year project in 2009 to send an astronaut into space by 2021.

In August, President Ahmadinejad said Tehran had reviewed the space mission and decided to launch a manned shuttle into space by 2017.

PressTV - 'Iran working on 10-year space project'

 

[Pasban]

"Mardani went on to say that the ISA had completed the construction of the Rasad 1 satellite and would send it into orbit by March next year."

I believe Iran is facing some difficulties with it's satellite launch vehicle. The start of the Rasad-1 project was announced at the onset of July and it was said that a launch was to be readied in August. This is but a brief 2 month period from initial announcement meaning that the satellite has already been in development. An announcement as such signifies two things in general. One, when you announce such a deadline it means that your satellite is in ready condition (has reached a deployment stage and necessary tests have been conducted) and that you are certain of the above, that it is in position to accomplish it's mission, whatever it may be. Secondly, an announcement as such means that the launchpad is in a ready-state.

At the end of the two month period, the ISA planned a further start of a series of tests of for it's SLV. Hence, I believe that whereas there has been no difficulty with the satellite and related systems themselves, Iran is having to devote more time and resources to it's SLV, which I suspect has to do with it's most important component, it's engine/ booster. Just my own thoughts of course.

 

[file12345]

hmmm Iran should concentrate more on churning modern weapons then these showy gestures.

On a side not if Iran is really interested then perhaps some cooperation between us would be feasible.

 

[Pasban]

hmmm Iran should concentrate more on churning modern weapons then these showy gestures.

I don't see how having an active space program and developing a manned one is a showy gesture. I am all for a very large and dedicated space program for Iran. There are numerous benefits which can be reaped from such endeavors.

 

[file12345]

I don't see how having an active space program and developing a manned one is a showy gesture. I am all for a very large and dedicated space program for Iran. There are numerous benefits which can be reaped from such endeavors.

For Iran developing modern weapons are far more important than having a space program.

 

[siegecrossbow]

For Iran developing modern weapons are far more important than having a space program.

Space programs have duel uses. You can not have ASATs or ASBMs without having a solid space program.

 

[file12345]

Space programs have duel uses. You can not have ASATs or ASBMs without having a solid space program.

Sir,Kinetic kill vehicles and Carrier busters come after armed forces have achieved decent quality such as China.

Not when a country is sitting with 60s 70s era weapons and dreaming of hitting satellites and building space stations.

 

[Enigma]

WHATT?

 

[Pasban]

For Iran developing modern weapons are far more important than having a space program.

I disagree with you in that in entirety. Not every endeavor by Iran has to be military centric and moreover Iran does not have a military-first spending policy which is reflected in it having the smallest proportion of designated defense expenditures compared to it's GDP in the region; in terms of combined expenditures, Iran spends more on power/ infrastructure, education and research programs, which in turn provide the real stimulus. Also, an Iranian space program does not obstruct her ongoing military projects in any way, rather it enriches them in the form of new-found expertise and developed technologies. To put it in a military aspect only, any Iranian military program would reach an eventual saturation point, if further breakthroughs or advantageous technological inputs were not to be had. In line with an ardent push for self-sufficiency, space exploration is but a most pragmatic choice.

Furthermore, the socio-economic benefits (from dual-use technologies for instance), generate over and above the revenue of the initial cost of the program, albeit in the long run. In general, the Iranian population remains very supportive of an Iranian space program. Technological backwardness is seen as a major failure, and the government stresses upon it, hence scientific work receives much funding. I will add that no country has been able to wield effective power in a military sphere without it having been supported by a strong scientific and economic background. As such, Iran needs to focus equally on economy-centric and scientific endeavors.

 

[no_name]

Sir,Kinetic kill vehicles and Carrier busters come after armed forces have achieved decent quality such as China.

Not when a country is sitting with 60s 70s era weapons and dreaming of hitting satellites and building space stations.

They say its a ten year space program. But there is no reason why they can't instead be developing ICBM delivery technologies. Also having this kind of headlines make it more legitimate for receiving help from other countries.

 

[file12345]

I disagree with you in that in entirety. Not every endeavor by Iran has to be military centric and moreover Iran does not have a military-first spending policy which is reflected in it having the smallest proportion of designated defense expenditures compared to it's GDP in the region; in terms of combined expenditures, Iran spends more on power/ infrastructure, education and research programs, which in turn provide the real stimulus. Also, an Iranian space program does not obstruct her ongoing military projects in any way, rather it enriches them in the form of new-found expertise and developed technologies. To put it in a military aspect only, any Iranian military program would reach an eventual saturation point, if further breakthroughs or advantageous technological inputs were not to be had. In line with an ardent push for self-sufficiency, space exploration is but a most pragmatic choice.

Furthermore, the socio-economic benefits (from dual-use technologies for instance), generate over and above the revenue of the initial cost of the program, albeit in the long run. In general, the Iranian population remains very supportive of an Iranian space program. Technological backwardness is seen as a major failure, and the government stresses upon it, hence scientific work receives much funding. I will add that no country has been able to wield effective power in a military sphere without it having been supported by a strong scientific and economic background. As such, Iran needs to focus equally on economy-centric and scientific endeavors.

Scientific endeavors that are fruitful not a useless space program that does only one thing EAT FUNDS.There are thousands of scientific endeavors that are far far far far more fruitful and provide far more economic stimulus than a space program.

All the major world powers have been investing in Space for 6 decades and haven't earned a single penny DIRECTLY.

And in Iran's case i would say if you had spent more energy on developing military electronics(Which by the way are far more dual use than a space program)today you wouldn't be worrying about how to protect your nuclear program.

Listen what i am trying to say is that space program is only useful for those countries that have achieved parity with their enemies,aren't under sanctions from the whole world,are not surrounded by enemies having state of the art weapons and have a certain level of scientific and engineering experience and base to exploit the knowledge gained by such endeavors.

Iran can better spend their wealth on other good things rather than a showy space program.

 

[Pasban]

Scientific endeavors that are fruitful not a useless space program that does only one thing EAT FUNDS.There are thousands of scientific endeavors that are far far far far more fruitful and provide far more economic stimulus than a space program.

How have you determined the space program to be useless. Also, the space program is only one leg of scientific research. The other key areas which have been heavily invested in with the direction of the state.

All the major world powers have been investing in Space for 6 decades and haven't earned a single penny DIRECTLY.

This isn't true for the reason that direct trails are irrelevant. The space programs of the United States and Soviet union helped them make technological leaps, which were then utilized elsewhere. A lot of the technology that we find present today has been a result of their space programs.

And in Iran's case i would say if you had spent more energy on developing military electronics(Which by the way are far more dual use than a space program)today you wouldn't be worrying about how to protect your nuclear program.

Well, actually there is already a dedicated group led by the IEI and the DIO for this. Iran has made some headway in electronic systems, however, it in indeed very much behind in many respects. They of course receive funding but it is considered diminutive by some. On that account, the budget of the space program, ~400m annually is considered insufficient by many commentators also. It forces the developers to come up with a very economical program which is hindered by the fact that a space program requires extensive research and testing which has significant cost bearings.

Listen what i am trying to say is that space program is only useful for those countries that have achieved parity with their enemies,aren't under sanctions from the whole world,are not surrounded by enemies having state of the art weapons and have a certain level of scientific and engineering experience and base to exploit the knowledge gained by such endeavors.

I fail to agree on that. A space program is one way to achieve parity and a way to show the failure of sanctions and indeed defy them. Moreover, with or without a program as such, the geo-political position of Iran is not going to change, to make it an excuse for not pursuing a program isn't pragmatic. Also, it's only by such efforts and more that Iran would develop the added knowledge to advance it's industrial/scientific base, more so given the restrictions placed upon her.

Iran can better spend their wealth on other good things rather than a showy space program.

I still don't see how an Iranian space program has been determined by you to be 'showy' i.e for namesake only and without any serious scientific orientation or any long-term benefits for Iran. Also, there is the continuous assumption that this is the lone program undertaken by Iran.

 

[file12345]

How have you determined the space program to be useless. Also, the space program is only one leg of scientific research. The other key areas which have been heavily invested in with the direction of the state.



This isn't true for the reason that direct trails are irrelevant. The space programs of the United States and Soviet union helped them make technological leaps, which were then utilized elsewhere. A lot of the technology that we find present today has been a result of their space programs.



Well, actually there is already a dedicated group led by the IEI and the DIO for this. Iran has made some headway in electronic systems, however, it in indeed very much behind in many respects. They of course receive funding but it is considered diminutive by some. On that account, the budget of the space program, ~400m annually is considered insufficient by many commentators also. It forces the developers to come up with a very economical program which is hindered by the fact that a space program requires extensive research and testing which has significant cost bearings.



I fail to agree on that. A space program is one way to achieve parity and a way to show the failure of sanctions and indeed defy them. Moreover, with or without a program as such, the geo-political position of Iran is not going to change, to make it an excuse for not pursuing a program isn't pragmatic. Also, it's only by such efforts and more that Iran would develop the added knowledge to advance it's industrial/scientific base, more so given the restrictions placed upon her.




I still don't see how an Iranian space program has been determined by you to be 'showy' i.e for namesake only and without any serious scientific orientation or any long-term benefits for Iran. Also, there is the continuous assumption that this is the lone program undertaken by Iran.

Whatever makes you feel happy man.What your country is trying to do is to achieve a Phd without having passed 10th grade.

 

[Pasban]

Whatever makes you feel happy man.What your country is trying to do is to achieve a Phd without having passed 10th grade.

Even a journey of a thousand miles... begins with the first two steps

- Confucius.

 

[file12345]

Even a journey of a thousand miles... begins with the first two steps

- Confucius.

The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.

Joe Girard.