Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran is planning to launch four new satellites with domestically-designed carriers into the space in near future.

Deputy Director of Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli said launching of the satellites such as Sharif Sat, Zafar (Triumph), Tolou (Sunrise) and Pars with powerful locally-designed carriers is on the agenda, Press TV reported.

Zafar is a monitoring satellite, which will be sent into a geostationary orbit that is a circular orbit around 36,000 kilometers (22,320 miles) above the Earth's equator. The satellite will reportedly have a lifespan of one year and six months. It will capture images and transmit them to stations on earth.

Tolou satellite will also carry out remote sensing and topography missions and will travel in an orbit of 500 kilometers above the Earth's equator.

Fazeli pointed to Iran's position in the global aerospace field, noting that the country is among the five emerging states active in this sector and that many countries are following Iran's lead in their space programs.

He said mastering the technology for geosynchronous satellites, localizing, designing and launching of telecommunications and remote-sensing satellites as well as establishing launch pads and telemetry stations are among other priorities of the ISA.

In July, the ISA formulated a 10-year strategic plan which incorporates three main sections, including sending humans as well as telecommunications and remote sensing satellites into space.

Earlier, Fazeli said the country plans to send a man into space in the next 4 years.

On January 28, 2013, Iran sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule, code-named Pishgam (Pioneer), as a prelude to sending humans on space missions.

Iran launched its first indigenous satellite, Omid (Hope), in 2009. The country also sent its first bio-capsule containing living creatures into space in February 2010, using the indigenous Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) carrier. Iran has frequently said that it will push ahead with its space program in the coming years.

The country is one of the 24 founding members of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, established back in 1959.