Dusti Satellite Successfully Placed In Orbit, Says Defense Officials

Iranian officials say that an indigenous communications satellite has been successfully launched into orbit, reports Urdu Point (Pakistan).

The Safir launch vehicle carried the Dusti communications satellite into orbit, Deputy Defense Minister Ghasem Taghizadeh said on Wednesday, as quoted by the IRNA news agency.

The launch was scheduled to mark the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, which is celebrated during the 10 Days of Dawn in early February, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said earlier this week.

Tehran plans to launch another satellite, the Tolou, in the near future, Taghizadeh said.

On Jan. 15, Iran failed to launch the Payam satellite into orbit. The launch vehicle did not gain sufficient momentum to complete the mission.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed concern that the technology used in Iranian space launches is “virtually identical” to what is used in nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles.