Iran's first communication satellite is expected to be launched before March 2006, the official IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday.
"The communication satellite is expected to be launched within the current Iranian calendar year (which is to end on March 20, 2006)" - Hassan Shafti, deputy minister of communication and information technology.
During the first session of Iran's High Space Council, Shafti said that the satellite, dubbed "Mesbah", was designed and being constructed in cooperation with Italian experts.
Iran had planned to construct five satellites, three of which would be launched to the space over the next three years. The second one, which is multi-mission and larger than "Mesbah", would be launched next year, and the third one, coded "Zohreh", in three years. The communication satellite "Zohreh" is designed and constructed by Russia under the supervision of Iran.
