Congrats to the successful launch. With this orbital launch, Iran has only become the 10th nation/space organisation after the Soviet Union (Russia), US, France, Japan, China, the UK, ESA, India and Israel to successfully launch an orbital rocket.
Since when are booster test flights -- requiring detailed imagery to detect anomalies -- conducted in the dark? With the chief of state in attendance? I'm suspicious of all 'certainties' on this mysterious shot.
Somebody should do some media searching and figure out how many times they have claimed to have launched something when they have not, or claimed to be about to launch something and then have not.The Iranians have a tendency to exaggerate their rocket and space plans and achievements. It would be useful to compare this event to their past pattern.
Some reports are now suggesting that the launch was orbital, but carried a demonstration payload.http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n149617
Regardless, the object would be tracked, however most Western reports are talking about a rocket test, not a satellite. I also find John's videos (which apparently come from an Arab channel) to be pretty conclusive in this regard.
