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Iran attempts second satellite launch

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Iran attempted to launch a satellite into space for the second time in a month, according to reports in the US and Israel.

Satellite images of the Imam Khomeini Space Centre in Iran’s northern Semnan province taken by the San Francisco-based company Planet appear to show a second failed attempt to launch a satellite. The imagery, shared with NPR, shows burn scars on a newly painted launch pad which appeared after days of activity at the site, suggesting Iran had been preparing for a launch. NPR quotes David Schmerler, a senior research associate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who said the burn scars on the launch pad indicate that the rocket took off successfully. Schmerler says: “We seem to see at least some scorch marks on the launch pad, indicating that a launch likely happened… It looks like it went up and probably just failed to insert the satellite into orbit.”

Iran has not confirmed the attempted launch, but in the past has delayed announcing similar tests. Iran usually displays space achievements in February during the anniversary of its 1979 Islamic Revolution, and this this year will mark the 40th anniversary of the revolution on Monday 11 February.

The US says Iranian satellite launches defy UN Security Council resolution’s calling on Iran to undertake no activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. However, Iran says it does not seek nuclear weapons and its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component. Tehran also says they don’t violate the UNSC resolution that only “called upon” it not to conduct such tests. Israel and the US maintain that Iran’s space program is a cover for ballistic missile development and is concerned as the same technology to launch satellites can also be used to launch ballistic missiles.

Following Iran’s failed satellite launch in January, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged the first Iranian launch was actually “the first stage of an intercontinental missile” Iran is developing in violation of international agreements.