Mortuza Berari, head of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Space Research Organization, said his country would launch an observation satellite into space in the next few days. The satellite was designed by Iranian scientists.
Berry told the French news agency AFP yesterday (Saturday) that the Jafar or Victory satellite was built by 70 scientists three years ago. He said the 113-kg satellite would be launched from the Seymourg carrier and would orbit the Earth three times a day at an altitude of 530 km above the Earth's orbit.
Berry said it took a year and a half to make the satellite operational. The primary function of this satellite will be to collect data and images. He said such information is needed to study earthquakes and to prevent natural disasters and to develop agriculture. This will be a new step for Iran.
Berari said Iran had previously been able to launch a satellite 250 kilometers above the earth.
