Author Topic: Iranian Ballistic Missile/Satellite Launch (Read 6713 times)

stargazer777 · « **on:** 01/25/2007 09:35 pm »

Aviation Week news bulletin.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/IRAN01257.xml

« **Reply #1 on:** 01/25/2007 10:22 pm »

How dare they use their ballistic missile capability for peaceful purposes!

stargazer777 · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/25/2007 10:24 pm »

Another target for the Chinese.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/25/2007 10:32 pm »

Any chance this will cause any ripples with the US Government in a "hey guys, we need to make sure NASA's budget is healthy in case these axis of evil types get good at rockets"? Or am I being overly hopeful?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/25/2007 11:34 pm »

A very strange event for journalists is seeing a media report sent out as a presser. I don't think I've ever seen a media company use a PR Newswire to 'release' a story as a presser.

Iran's Sputnik: Iran Set to Try Space Launch, Reports AVIATION WEEK

Cape Canaveral - January 25, 2007 - Iran has completed conversion of one of its most powerful ballistic missiles into a satellite launcher. The new vehicle could act as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" to test long-range Iranian missile strike technology, according to AVIATION WEEK, which broke the story on its website January 25.

Although designed as a technology demonstrator, the planned satellite launch would be a potent political and emotional weapon in the Middle East. The new space launcher and ongoing missile development are also significant in that they highlight close technological ties between the Iranian and North Korean missiles programs, intelligence agencies agree.

The new Iranian space launcher has recently been assembled and "will lift off soon," AVIATION WEEK quotes Alaoddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, as saying.

A synopsis of the article is available at AviationWeek.com (http://www.aviationweek.com/) and will be expanded upon in a story headlined "Iran's Sputnik" in the January 29 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology (AWST). The story also reports:

-- If launched successfully, it would place in space a Shia Islamic symbol
visible in the night sky around the world.

-- The Iranian space program eventually aims to orbit reconnaissance
satellites like Israel's "Ofek," says Uzi Rubin, the former head of the
Israel Missile Defense Organization. In a report for an Israeli think
tank, the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Rubin says Iran could
adapt the satellite launcher into a long range ICBM. "Remember the
impact on the U.S. of Russia's launch of 'Sputnik'?" Rubin asks.

-- There are concerns that Iranian space launch vehicle upgrades could
eventually translate into a ballistic missile with nearly 2,500-mile
range that could strike as far west as central Europe.

-- The new Iranian capability could reinvigorate missile defense
developments in Western Europe.

-- An Iranian satellite, and its new Iranian launcher, would also send
White House National Security Council (NSC) space policy analysts back
into high gear. NSC analysts have already been working overtime to sort
out the implications of a January 11 Chinese anti-satellite weapon
test, also first reported by Aviation Week & Space Technology in the
January 22 issue. Like the Chinese Asat test, the launch of an Islamic
satellite would reinforce strong calls from Congress and the Pentagon
to increase U. S. development of improved "space situational awareness"
capability.

"Iran's Sputnik" was reported by Craig Covault, overall Senior Editor for AW&ST. Covault has written about 3,000 major articles on space and aeronautics during 34 years at the publication, including extensive reporting on national security space issues. Covault has filed stories from 20 countries and written extensively from Europe, Russia, and Japan. He also has extensive experience across China covering Chinese space and aeronautics. He is a pilot and has flown about 20 major military aircraft including numerous bomber, high performance fighter and command and control aircraft. Covault served as AW&ST's Paris Bureau Chief from 1992-1996.

The Iran story is the second significant international defense story to break this month via AVIATION WEEK's newly redesigned website. The story "Chinese Test Anti-Satellite Weapon," also reported by Covault, first broke on AviationWeek.com on January 18.

For further commentary, TV/Radio reporters may contact Patricia Walsh at (212) 512-3364, (646) 673-6640 or [email protected]. Craig Covault is available for additional commentary and interviews at (321) 433- 9933 or [email protected].

About AVIATION WEEK

AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group's web portal, http://www.aviationweek.com/, offers the industry's most reliable news, information, intelligence and features, and its Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) at http://www.aviationweek.com/awin is the industry's most integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals across the entire aviation and aerospace field. The group also produces 12 major conferences and exhibitions in the MRO, defense and programs sectors. Information is available at http://www.aviationweek.com/conferences.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Contact: Patricia Walsh
(212) 512-3364, (646) 673-6640
[email protected]

PRNewswire - Jan. 25

Source: AVIATION WEEK

hop · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/25/2007 11:52 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 25/1/2007 3:32 PM

Any chance this will cause any ripples with the US Government in a "hey guys, we need to make sure NASA's budget is healthy in case these axis of evil types get good at rockets"? Or am I being overly hopeful?

Overly hopeful IMO. A successful Iranian launch would stimulate BMD, ASAT and counter-ASAT. The main connection these things have with NASA is that they require billions to spent elsewhere. This could stimulate US space capability (especially things like assured access and responsive launchers), but seems unlikely to benefit NASA directly.

stargazer777 · « **Reply #6 on:** 01/26/2007 02:11 am »

Overly hopeful IMO. A successful Iranian launch would stimulate BMD, ASAT and counter-ASAT. The main connection these things have with NASA is that they require billions to spent elsewhere. This could stimulate US space capability (especially things like assured access and responsive launchers), but seems unlikely to benefit NASA directly.

However, it does lend credibility to those who argued that the threat in space is serious. Note the crucial role that close cooperation with the North Koreans played in this development. The genie is definitely out of the bottle. This coupled with the recent Chinese muscle flexing and their growing manned space program raises the specter of threats that extend to earth orbit and potentially to the Moon and beyond. I think it is going to be very difficult for Congress or a new Administration to simply assume that we can walk away from manned space flight and lunar exploration and that our interests -- short term and long term -- won't be seriously threatened. Basically, a rerun of the cold-war space race but at slower speed and with longer term consequences. Clearly, if the Chinese turn out to be a major threat, they will be a threat for decades to come -- perhaps for the rest of the Century. I would hate for that to be the real justification for our manned space program, but if it gets us over the hump in terms of initial funding for the capabilities we need to have I will take it.

meiza · « **Reply #7 on:** 01/26/2007 02:20 am »

This has been coming for years... notice that they contracted launch of one iranian satellite to Russia, it was done last year iirc... It's been very slowly coming for years, nothing new. Maybe russians will again sell them cheap launches and they're content for a while, I don't know.

stargazer777 · « **Reply #8 on:** 01/26/2007 02:25 am »

A very strange event for journalists is seeing a media report sent out as a presser. I don't think I've ever seen a media company use a PR Newswire to 'release' a story as a presser.

Chris: Maybe you should take a page out of their notebook. This may be a strategy worth copying for the right kind of story.

realtime · « **Reply #9 on:** 01/26/2007 04:55 am »

Oh great. Another 50 years of proxy wars and MAD. Only this time with the Islamists. Who next after that, the freakin' Scientologists? Where does it end?

stargazer777 · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/26/2007 07:08 am »

It might happen -- I am not sure it can be avoided. Most of this depends on the actions of others beyond our borders and beyond our ability to directly influence. But at least NASA is and always has been peaceful, and we can be proud of that.