Iran to launch 3 satellites in 2012

“According to schedule, 'Rasad 1 (Observation 1)' satellite will be launched into space in early next (Iranian) year; then, 'Fajr (Dawn)' satellite and finally student-made 'Navid Elm-o-Sanat (Hope for Science and Technology) ' will be sent into space,” said Hamid Fazeli, the head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA).

“At the moment, Rasad 1 satellite is fully ready to be launched,” Fazeli was quoted by ISNA as saying on Sunday.

He added that certain tests and modifications are scheduled to be carried out on the other two satellites before they are launched.

He underscored the three are remote sensing satellites and might not have great accuracy, but they are part of Iran's technological progress.

The official went on to say that Fajr is also going to put new technologies to test.

Only a few days ago, Fazeli announced that Iran would launch domestically-built Kavoshgar 4(Explorer 4) satellite carrier into space by mid-March.

He said Kavoshgar 4 is equipped with several new systems and would carry a monkey passenger into space.

It is planned to take a 120-kilometer course and carry out studies on solar and galaxy radiations, as well as astronomical and meteorological studies.