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Iran's Emerging Space Program

(Washington Institute for Near East Policy) Farzin Nadimi - According to the U.S. Strategic Command's initial assessment, Iran's attempt to place an operational satellite into orbit on July 27 using a Simorgh space launch vehicle (SLV) experienced catastrophic failure shortly after liftoff at the Imam Khomeini National Space Center, 220 km. southeast of Tehran in Semnan province. Iran's first attempt to launch a Simorgh took place in April 2016 and was described by U.S. intelligence sources as "partly successful" although not intended for satellite orbital insertion. An SLV incorporates many common technologies with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and a Simorgh-type ballistic missile is estimated by rocket engineers to have a 7,500-km. range with a 700-kg. warhead. This range falls short of the continental U.S. but covers all of Europe and Asia. With this latest launch, Iran's space program has emerged from a three-year dormancy initiated by President Rouhani, but probably issuing from technical and budgetary constraints as well. Further launches can be expected in the near future, a worrisome scenario considering assessments that a ballistic-missile derivative of the Simorgh could potentially achieve intercontinental range.
2017-08-02 00:00:00
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