Iran has a “genuine and ambitious” space launch program that is not just a cover for ICBM development, according to a Dec. 6 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report obtained by Secrecy News.
While an ICBM shares many similar technologies and processes inherent in space launch, CRS found numerous examples that suggest a legitimate space launch effort. CRS said Iran has outlined, and moved forward, plans to develop, test and launch a number of rockets into space for short durations to measure the effects of space and study its effects on animals in preparation for manned space flight in its space program.
CRS said Iran launched three rockets dating back to 2008 containing animals for scientific experiments, making Iran the sixth nation to send animals into space. After suspending its sub-orbital flight program in 2011, Iran in May announced the program to send live animals into space would resume soon, CRS said.
CRS also said the fact Iran has publicly committed to a visible, manned space effort over the next decade is indicative of the kind of space launch program one would expect from a country pursuing a legitimate program. CRS said Iran in 2008 announced plans for its own manned space program as well as plans for the development of its own spacecraft and a space laboratory.
CRS said Iranian President Mamoud Ahmadinejad in 2010 announced that Iran’s first astronaut would be sent into space on an Iranian spacecraft no later than 2019. CRS said this would be preceded by an Iranian-manned sub-orbital spaceflight by 2016 in preparation for the eventual orbital spaceflight.
CRS said some experts believe Iran is building a new space complex in the southeast portion of the country near the Persian Gulf. CRS said the fact that such a complex is so close the Gulf and highly vulnerable to attack suggests its purpose is space launch activities. CRS said Iran’s space launch complexes are currently located in the northeast and north-central parts of the country, where Iran’s launch trajectory is limited if it wants to avoid flying over neighbors Oman and Pakistan. CRS also said this new location would alleviate safety concerns due to its proximity to water and would help achieve orbit by taking advantage of Earth’s rotation.
CRS said Iran has also successfully launched three satellites into orbit since 2009: The research and telecommunications satellite Omid, the telecommunications and reconnaissance satellite Navid-Elmo-Sannat (or Ya Mahdi) and the imaging satellite Rasad. CRS also said Iran had two satellites scheduled for the 2011-2012 timeframe, though it did not say if launches were successful. CRS said Iran had three additional satellites planned for launch by 2016.
CRS said although Iran’s efforts for a legitimate space launch capability does not mean it will not learn much from a launch program that could be applied to ICBM development, some might argue Iran’s use of personnel and resources in this way “significantly weakens” the case that Iran’s space program is merely rhetorical masking of a covert ICBM program.