Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
February 4, 2008

Iran Test Launches Rocket Designed to Carry Homemade Satellite Into
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Space
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B24D92:A6F02AD83191E1600E4D9F908F0F129570AD7039DCD7B7E4& State television
shows footage of rocket soaring into sky from desert launching pad





Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, center, surrounded by
officials, stands under a research rocket, in Tehran, 04 Feb 2008Iran
says it has test-launched a rocket designed to carry its first
homemade research satellite into space.

Iranian state television showed footage Monday of a rocket soaring
into the sky from a desert launch pad. It did not say what height the
rocket reached. A small probe was seen dropping from the rocket after
the launch, but it was not clear what it contained.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad recited the launch countdown as
part of a ceremony to inaugurate a space center near Tehran.

Iranian officials say the facility in the northern province of Semnan
will be used to launch an Iranian-made satellite (named Omid, or
"Hope") into space within a year. Mr. Ahmadinejad said after the test
that Iran has taken a strong first step into space.

Iran has been pursuing a space program for several years. It says it
wants to launch satellites for research and telecommunications.

Iran's first satellite was designed by Russia and launched into space
by a Russian rocket in October 2005.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.






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