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Related: About this forumIran Space Program Update
http://spaceref.com/space-quarterly-magazine/iran-space-program-update.html
Iran Space Program Update
Posted September 6, 2012
Iran Space Program Update by Henk H.F. Smid
Considering the changes in the Iranian space organization during the last decade, it was amazing to find a complete stand of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) at the exhibition of the International Astronomical Congress in Cape Town last fall. This kind of openness was not in concert with the organizational changes that were signified by the more military control of the space scene and space organizations in Iran during the last five years.
The ISA, founded in 2004, originally was set up in the form of an autonomous civil organization. It was mandated to follow and implement the strategies authorized by the Space Supreme Council and over time, through a series of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers of Iran and the Guardian Council, became the highest authority responsible for space affairs. However, being in charge of the space program apparently necessitated control of knowledge and research, cumulating in ISA annexing space related institutes. This led to successive program leadership with a military background and specific tasks were transferred from the private and civil sector to military control.
Since 2010, institutes affected by these developments were the Space Research Institute, the Aerospace Research Institute and the Engineering Research Institute. Academic sources in Iran speak of the presence and penetration of members of the Guardian Corps of the Islamic Revolution (which is a non-civilian organization) in the decision-making and operational levels of these institutes and the ISA. Furthermore, the public non-availability of (remote sensing) products of Iran's satellites in space, either point at payload failures of these satellites, or military secrecy and control. The non-availability of news by the local media about failed launches enhances the perceived military control as described.
<snip>
Iran Space Program Update
Posted September 6, 2012
Iran Space Program Update by Henk H.F. Smid
Considering the changes in the Iranian space organization during the last decade, it was amazing to find a complete stand of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) at the exhibition of the International Astronomical Congress in Cape Town last fall. This kind of openness was not in concert with the organizational changes that were signified by the more military control of the space scene and space organizations in Iran during the last five years.
The ISA, founded in 2004, originally was set up in the form of an autonomous civil organization. It was mandated to follow and implement the strategies authorized by the Space Supreme Council and over time, through a series of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers of Iran and the Guardian Council, became the highest authority responsible for space affairs. However, being in charge of the space program apparently necessitated control of knowledge and research, cumulating in ISA annexing space related institutes. This led to successive program leadership with a military background and specific tasks were transferred from the private and civil sector to military control.
Since 2010, institutes affected by these developments were the Space Research Institute, the Aerospace Research Institute and the Engineering Research Institute. Academic sources in Iran speak of the presence and penetration of members of the Guardian Corps of the Islamic Revolution (which is a non-civilian organization) in the decision-making and operational levels of these institutes and the ISA. Furthermore, the public non-availability of (remote sensing) products of Iran's satellites in space, either point at payload failures of these satellites, or military secrecy and control. The non-availability of news by the local media about failed launches enhances the perceived military control as described.
<snip>
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Iran Space Program Update (Original Post)
bananas
Sep 2012
OP
bananas
(27,509 posts)1. James Oberg and the editor have a short but meaningful dialogue
James Oberg
"However, the attempt to launch a Rhesus monkey with Kavoshgar-5 failed last fall but was not reported in the local media. "
I remain unconvinced of this. The only source I ever tracked the story back to was an AFP story from Iran that claimed to be quoting an Iranian press report -- which nobody could find. Sorry, I made my best efforts and couldn't come up with anything else.
4 days ago
[hr]
Marc Boucher
A recurring theme while editing the article and discussing it with the author, Henk Smid, who's been to Iran and has multiple sources there, is the lack of reporting within Iran on the certain aspects of the program. It is typical of these types of regimes to limit what is released to the media.
4 days ago
in reply to James Oberg
"However, the attempt to launch a Rhesus monkey with Kavoshgar-5 failed last fall but was not reported in the local media. "
I remain unconvinced of this. The only source I ever tracked the story back to was an AFP story from Iran that claimed to be quoting an Iranian press report -- which nobody could find. Sorry, I made my best efforts and couldn't come up with anything else.
4 days ago
[hr]
Marc Boucher
A recurring theme while editing the article and discussing it with the author, Henk Smid, who's been to Iran and has multiple sources there, is the lack of reporting within Iran on the certain aspects of the program. It is typical of these types of regimes to limit what is released to the media.
4 days ago
in reply to James Oberg
LunaSea
(2,895 posts)2. Did you catch their PR effort?
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2153/1
The cover of Asteroid Attack, the childrens book created by the Iranian Space Agency.
The cover of Asteroid Attack, the childrens book created by the Iranian Space Agency.