Tehran to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019

The Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has ratified a bill requiring the government to enhance its efforts to design and launch satellites and satellite carriers.


On Monday, Iranian lawmakers voted in favor of Article 49 of a bill in the country's Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2011-2015), which will authorize the government to set up the infrastructure needed for the Islamic Republic's satellite projects, IRNA reported.

The new law reads, "Regarding the importance of space expertise and the attainment of related technologies, the government can take necessary action in order to meet the country's needs in the field of space."

The government has accordingly been required to develop relevant industries for the construction, testing, and launching of satellite systems, including satellites and their carriers and controllers.

Iran joined the club of countries with satellite launching expertise in 2009 with the launch of its domestically produced Omid satellite, which blasted into space on a carrier called the Safir.

The Omid is the third Iranian-made satellite to be sent into space. Russia launched Iran's first satellite in 2005. Three years later, another satellite, which had been jointly designed by Iran, China, and Thailand, was launched into orbit by China.

Tehran also plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019.