Via NYTimes.com -
TEHRAN, Feb. 25 — Iran announced today that it had successfully launched a research rocket to sub-orbital altitude, a test apparently moving it closer toward its aim of putting its own satellites into space.
Initially, the head of Iran’s Aerospace Research Center, Mohsen Bahrami, was quoted by the Iranian Student News Agency on Saturday as saying that the rocket, carrying a research cargo, “was launched successfully into space.” But he did not disclose any further information about the altitude the rocket reached or when it was launched. State television also reported the news today.
Ali Akbar Golrou, another official at the center, told the Fars News Agency today that the rocket was a so-called “sounding rocket” carrying atmosphere-testing equipment that rose 94 miles before falling back on earth by parachute, he said.
“The rocket was launched only for scientific and research purposes,” Mr. Golrou was quoted as saying. “Some of the news agencies have reported that a missile has been launched into space, which is false.”
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