Iran fires rocket from space center

Feb 4, CNN

TEHRAN - Iran fired a rocket from its newly inaugurated space center Monday, laying the groundwork for what it says will be the future launch of its first domestically produced satellite, the semi-official FARS news agency reported.

The "Researcher One" rocket is designed to carry a satellite into a low earth orbit.

The report said the rocket was launched "into space." But similar previous technological achievements announced by the Islamic republic have been greeted with doubt by analysts.

Monday's launch came a short time after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the center Monday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

Ahmadinejad said Iran's first step in the field of space technology had been taken wisely and precisely, IRNA reported.

"With the launch, Iran has joined the world's top 11 countries possessing space technology to build satellites, and launch rockets into space," state TV said.

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photo: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits the space center in Tehran on Monday (AP/Getty Images)