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Last update - 10:40 04/02/2008 Iran TV: Tehran tests launcher for first homemade satellite By News Agencies and Haaretz Service Tags: TECSAR, Iran, Israel  Iran launched a rocket on Monday designed to send its first homemade research satellite into orbit in the next year, state television said, a move likely to add to Israeli and Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear plans. The ability to put satellites into orbit could indicate an advance in the Islamic Republic's missile technology, though official media gave few details. "We need to have an active and influential presence in space," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a televised ceremony before the launch. Advertisement "Iran took its first step [to establish a presence in space] very strongly, precisely and wisely," he said. "Building and launching a satellite is a very important achievement." State television reported the rocket had blasted off but did not show the launch. It had earlier broadcast footage of a rocket on a launch pad in desert terrain. It said the satellite, called Omid (Hope), would be launched in the next Iranian year, which ends in March 2009. The reported Iranian test comes in the wake of Israel's succesful launch, some three weeks ago, of a new sophisticated satellite, the TECSAR, which could boost its intelligence gathering capabilities regarding Iran. Footage from the TESCAR was later transmitted for the first time a week after its launch. Ahmadinejad and other senior Iranian officials were shown in an auditorium at Monday's launch, but state television did not say where it was. Iran often announces advances in its missile technology. In November it said it had built a new missile with a range of 2,000 km, adding to the scope of its conventional arsenal. Western experts say Iran rarely gives enough details to determine how significant its technology advances are. They say much Iranian technology is based on modifications to equipment supplied by others, including China and North Korea. Israel and some Western powers fear Iran is covertly attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its plans are peaceful and that it wants to generate electricity from nuclear power plants. Related articles: News / Ahmadinejad: Missile tested by IDF won't save Israel from collapse Satellite launch bolsters ability to spy on Tehran Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Negev attack Dimona suicide bombing kills one woman in first such attack in more than a year. A friend in Dalia Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik is secretly raising Knesset officials' salaries.   1.   bravo iran 10:50  |  magic carpet :) 04/02/08   2.   Blast off from Persia...! 11:14  |  Stephen 04/02/08   3.   Launch Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in to space 13:15  |  SJ 04/02/08   4.   don´t underestamate iranians 13:49  |  Iranianoilbourse 04/02/08   5.   don´t underestamate iranians 13:49  |  Iranianoilbourse 04/02/08   6.   i was still waiting for the aids cure?????!!!!!!! 15:09  |  mira 04/02/08   7.   Congratulations 16:59  |  Aaron 04/02/08   8.   I am amazed at what the Iranians have been able to 17:41  |  WOW 04/02/08   9.   Iran is the real power in middle east 18:03  |  Ahmed 04/02/08   10.   That`s b/c Iranian Mullahs aren`t buying up 600ft yachts 18:09  |  Absolute Truth 04/02/08   11.   This should be a wake-up call for Israel 18:23  |  spyguy 04/02/08   12.   premature ejaculation in iran 18:54  |  frenz 04/02/08   13.   #12 fool 19:18  |  immortal 04/02/08   14.   The Tides are Turning!!! 19:21  |  Cool B 04/02/08   15.   `immortal` 19:30  |  frenz 04/02/08   16.   not cool, b 19:31  |  frenz 04/02/08   17.   "frenz" 19:48  |  immortal 04/02/08   18.   There is really nothing the world can do 20:31  |  MAN 04/02/08   19.   A new cold war 20:51  |  alex 04/02/08   20.   A big step for Iran, a little step for humanity 21:07  |  alex 04/02/08   21.   To SpyGuy: Don`t be too optimistic! 21:51  |  Abdullah Sarhan 04/02/08   22.   So what? 21:59  |  Mark Lincoln 04/02/08   23.   A Bluff ??? 22:14  |  Westwell 04/02/08   24.   SHOOT IT DOWN RIGHT AWAY!!! 22:42  |  Laguna Geno 04/02/08   25.   Go Iran,go! A sovereign nation has the right to develop its its 23:00  |  lakshmi 04/02/08   26.   Alex the Romanian 23:07  |  Huh? 04/02/08   27.   the monkey and his 40 thieves 00:23  |  zionist forever 05/02/08   28.   DONT UNDERESTIMATE 00:59  |  DANNY. 05/02/08   29.   TO NO 11. 01:06  |  DANNY. 05/02/08   30.   Oh ,how am I looking for the next war in the ME. 02:02  |  Oh lala 05/02/08   31.   You Call it Homemade? with the help of Chinese 04:37  |  Cristo 05/02/08

Today Online One dead in suicide bombing in southern city of Dimona Responses: 564 Bradley Burston: This is how Islam ends Responses: 185 Terror attack was matter of time after Gaza border breach Responses: 103 Sources: Hamas gives Israel letter from Gilad Shalit Responses: 62 Palestinian reporter, W. Bank rabbi give PM, Hamas draft truce Responses: 68 Rosner's Domain Do all candidates have similar views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Iraq, remember? (WTR) Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Poll: Do you trust Obama on Israel? The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one More Headlines 04:14 Livni backs Egyptian request to double its forces on Gaza border 22:52 Hamas claims Dimona attack, says bombers came from Hebron 04:11 PM vows 'relentless' war on terror in wake of Dimona attack 04:32 ANALYSIS: Dimona shows Israel has a security problem 300kms long 00:33 British government denounces hoax Holocaust e-mail 04:38 Report: Egypt reopens border after clashes with Gazans 05:07 U.S. consulate in J'lem to relocate in bid to speed up birth registration 02:43 Metzger to return to key religious court position next month 02:03 Dollar dives half-percent to NIS 3.578 sparking fears of labor strike 21:07 Lebanon to lodge UN complaint against Israel for border shooting 18:09 Policeman: Terrorist reached for the bomb and I shot him 23:29 Haredis and religious zionists to hold mass prayer against J'lem partition Previous Editions Select Day 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan

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