Omid Soars to Orbit

This is interesting news — that Iran has launched its first domestically created telecommunications satellite today — bringing that country more firmly into the space age. What I find interesting about this is the world’s reaction to that launch — which ranges from mostly guarded to highly critical (and the usual fears from developed countries that Iran may be trending toward building a nuclear arsenal).

Apparently the country isn’t supposed to be launching its own satellites due to fears that Iran may be moving toward arming itself more fully. And, those fears may be well-founded, but I think it’s also a great thing that Iran can participate in the use of space — as long as it’s for peaceful purposes.  Peaceful use of space is what we ALL should be aiming toward as an international effort.

Now, if Iran could figure out a way to get its economy jump-started again — a recent New Yorker article points out how very troubled Iran’s situation is after years of war and revolutionary pressures.

Anyway, this is an interesting development in the growing international interest and presence in space.  Read more about it here and here.  I’m sure there will be more chatter in all the usual places as the news filters out and people try to discern what it all means.