Russia to launch Iranian telecom satellite
Press Trust of India
Moscow, January 31, 2005
Russia will launch a geo-stationary telecom satellite for Iran under a $132 million deal.
Under the deal signed on Sunday in Tehran, the 850-kilogram Iranian satellite "Zohre" (Venus), with 16 transponders, would be placed by a Russian rocket at a geo-stationary orbit at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres within 30 months, ITAR-TASS reported.
The Iranian telecom satellite would have 15-year life span on orbit.
Under the deal inked by deputy chief of the Russian Space Agency Georgy Polischuk and Iranian Deputy Minister for Information and Communication Technologies Masud Moghadas, Moscow will also help the Islamic Republic in setting up two ground control stations and train local personnel.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.