Comes word over night of an apparently successful attempt by Iran to place a satellite in orbitusing the Safir-2 space launch vehicle (SLV). The Safir (“Ambassador”) was ingeniously developed as part of Iran’s growing rocket and missile program and has direct links to its attempts to develop extended range missiles in the IRBM and ultimately,…
The term tipping point describes a point at which a slow gradual change becomes irreversible and then proceeds with gathering pace. It is derived from the metaphor of a rigid solid object being tilted to a point where it begins to topple. Couple of observations from the region… Iran to launch 1st domestic satellite soon…
(ed. Been a while since we’ve run this recurring item – some interesting items of note from this week for your perusal. – SJS)  India: Agni-III IRBM Test Successful  India’s third test of the indigenously developed Agni-III IRBM on 7 May was evidently a complete success. Launched from Wheeler Island on the east…
Lost in the turmoil these past few days of the NIE debate, the missing waterboarding tapes, Oprahpaloosa, etc. were two announcements of note out of India. The first was their claim of a successful anti-tactical ballistic missile (ATBM) test using an interceptor based on the indigenously developed-Prithvi SRBM missile, earlier this week with presumably…
Couple of quick ones from around the ‘sphere: Iran Announces It Has Built a Satellite Launcher. (26 January) – Jerusalem Post. Iran has converted its 30-ton Shahab-3 missile into a satellite launch vehicle, a US-based aviation journal reported Thursday. According to Aviation Week and Space Technology, Alaoddin Boroujerdi, chairman of Iran’s National Security and Foreign…
Some increased levels of chatter these past few days re. cooperation between Iran and NK in nuclear weapons and missile fields. First up, the nuclear issue: NORTH KOREA HELPING IRANIANS TO SET UP NUKE TEST: REPORT: KOREANS SHARING THEIR TEST RESULTS, The VancouverProvince (British Columbia), January 24, 2007. North KoreaIran to prepare an underground nuclear…
Items of note from around the world today: 1. China’s ASAT test: China admits anti-satellite test: January 24, 2007. BEIJING: China has broken its silence and admitted that it held an anti-satellite test two weeks ago, confirming earlier reports from Washington. But a Foreign Ministry spokesman said China opposed any arms race in space and…
