Satellite

The US has. in the past, expressed concerns satellite launches could help Iran develop ballistic missiles.

It was the very first program of its kind between Israeli and Arab students jointly studying satellite engineering and astronomy, and the agency has other projects planned.

This was not the first time SpaceX has launched a classified spy satellite and despite the mysterious nature of the NROL-85, what is far more noteworthy is the rocket itself.

The satellite, Iran's second, is orbiting the Earth at a distance of around 500 kilometers and was launched from the IRGC space base in Shahrud.

This is the second such launch in a week.

"Off-lining the satellites of any country is actually a casus belli, a cause for war," said Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin.

The project manager for Iran’s Fajr program discusses Iran’s satellite initiatives, which are entwined with their rocket program.

Former Iranian satellite official Hossein Shahrabi Farahani argued that Iran’s satellite program has declined over the last seven years following its previous successes between 2009 and 2012.

The communications ministry is avoiding selling Israeli company Spacecom to Hungarian company 4iG due to concerns that Hungarian PM Viktor Orban is closely tied to the company.

Tomorrow.io plans to launch its first proprietary satellite into orbit this year.