Watch Iran's launch of domestically-built satellite into space
The locally-built satellite, named Payam, was mounted with four cameras during a ceremony at Imam Khomeini Spaceport on Tuesday, Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said.
According to a report on the ministry's website, it was intended to be used for imaging and communications purposes and orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers (310 miles).
The minister, however, said technical problems that occurred during the final stage of the launch prevented the spacecraft from reaching the orbit.
The satellite "did not reach enough speed in the third stage and was not put into the orbit," he said.
The minister said Iran would launch another satellite, named Doosti, soon.
"We should not come up short or stop," the minister wrote in a posting on Twitter, adding, "It's exactly in these circumstances that we Iranians are different than other people in spirit and bravery."
The head of the Iranian Space Agency, Morteza Barari, said Iran was now capable of manufacturing a satellite similar to Payam within a period of six months.
Iran considers its space program a matter of national pride, and has said its space vehicle launches are for scientific purposes.
Read more:
UN Security Council to meet Sunday on Iran's retaliation against Israel
From Tehran to Toronto to al-Quds, people hail Iran's retaliation against Israel
Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr marking end of fasting month of Ramadan
VIDEO | Iran marks defeat of US military operation in Tabas Desert
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
US troopers crack down on pro-Palestinian protests at University of Texas
VIDEO | German warship departs Red Sea as EU 'naval mission' fails
VIDEO | Palestinians inspect rubble of destroyed building in Rafah
Yemeni forces strike US, Israeli vessels in fresh pro-Palestinian operations
‘Say no to Biden’: US college being pressed not to endorse genocide
VIDEO | UN: Alarming food insecurity crisis grips Afghanistan
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
