Azernews.Az

Iran will inaugurate a space rocket launch base by the end of the tenure of the current administration in August, Mehr News Agency quoted Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying.

A number of satellites are scheduled to be launched in the coming weeks, Vahidi added. The Emam Khomeini base will launch Iranian satellites as well as those of other regional countries.

Earlier this month, Iran inaugurated its first space survey and monitoring base with the goal of boosting security of Iranian space systems and surveying satellites which are passing over Iran, IRNA news agency reported.

The base will help manage the traffic of satellites and share spatial information with other countries, Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said at the inauguration ceremony.

Iran will launch its own communications satellite in five years, head of country's Space Agency, Hamid Fazeli said, IRIB News reported.

Hamid Fazeli said Iran plans to send IranSat into space via three stages. First would be sending IranSat 1 into space in two years, then IranSat 2 will be sent next in 17 months.

Fazeli noted the satellite's manufacture and design cost $70 million, the satellite launch will be $30 million, plus an additional $40 million for transferring function blocks.

Iran launched its first satellite, called the Omid (Hope), in February 2009. The Rasad (Observation) satellite was also sent into orbit in June 2011.

In February, 2012, Iran successfully put its third domestically manufactured satellite Navid (Promise), into orbit. On February 8, 2012, Iran received the first image sent by the Navid satellite.

As part of its space programme, Iran also plans to launch the Fajr (Dawn) satellite in the near future.

The Fajr, which is a reconnaissance satellite powered by solar energy, will be Iran's first new generation satellite to be sent into space.