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Iran's First Successful Military Space Launch Should Worry Israel
(Ha'aretz) Yossi Melman - Iran's most successful satellite launch took place last week. Iran managed to put four satellites into orbit in the past, but they were short-lived. Iran tried 13 times, 9 of which failed completely. This time it seems Iran's new military spy satellite will likely last years before disintegrating. Dr. Uzi Rubin, former head of Israel's Missile Defense Organization, explained, "The space launcher and the satellite are assembled and fueled inside an underground shelter in a horizontal position. Once assembled and fueled, it can emerge and drive to any roughly prepared patch of ground, be erected, launch and quickly retreat to the shelter." The new space launcher seems to have the same capabilities as the Safir: a small orbiting satellite with a payload of up to 50 kg. The combination of its low altitude and small payload bars Iran's satellite from being equipped with sophisticated cameras. Its smaller cameras can only send low-resolution imagery, similar to that of Google Earth. But Iran has demonstrated that it is quickly closing its technological gaps. For Israel, the launch sends a clear message that despite U.S. objections, Iran is making headway in its plans to upgrade its long-range missiles, making them capable of delivering nuclear warheads.