Iran's Guards Say They Launched A Military Satellite
Iran’s IRGC has said they have successfully put a second military satellite into orbit, while last week satellite photos had revealed signs of a failed launch.
Iran’s IRGC has said they have successfully put a second military satellite into orbit, while last week satellite photos had revealed signs of a failed launch.
The announcement by the Revolutionary Guard, that needs to be verified independently, came as talks to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement known as JCPOA have paused in Vienna after last-minute snags.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies seen by The Associated Press last week showed scorch marks at a launch pad at Imam Khomeini Spaceport in Iran's rural Semnan province on February 27.
A rocket stand on the pad appeared scorched and damaged, with vehicles surrounding it. An object, possibly part of the gantry, sat near it.
Successful launches typically don't damage rocket gantries because they are lowered prior to takeoff.
The United States has maintained that space launches by Iran could be a cover to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles that would be able to deliver nuclear warheads.
Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programs in the Middle East, has suffered several failed satellite launches in recent years due to technical issues.
