Iranian 'Sputnik' Could Be Trojan Horse For Tehran's Ballistic Missile Program
Such an "Iranian Sputnik" would elevate the stature of the Iran in the Middle East.
Tehran's satellite launch plans could also be a "Trojan Horse" to further advance ballistic missile or nuclear warhead related technologies, sources told the magazine.
This parallels somewhat the situation in Brazil whose first successful rocket launch is being touted as the South American country’s initial foray into the commercial satellite industry. If you can launch a rocket you can launch an ICBM and Brazil is close to developing nuclear weapons, or ICBM’s with nuclear warheads. #msg-4394960
Brazil is being aided by Russia and China. Bush has planted missiles in the backyards of both Russia and China, I imagine they would do the same to us. Brazil is an excellent opportunity.
-Am
Iranian 'Sputnik' Could Be Trojan Horse For Tehran's Ballistic Missile Program
by Aviation Week & Space Technology. New York NY (SPX) Nov 29, 2004 Aviation Week & Space Technology reported in its November 29 issue that U.S. intelligence analysts are concerned about the planned launch from Iran, by early 2005, of an Iranian built satellite on an upgraded version of Tehran's largest ballistic missile, the Shahab-3. The preparations for and launch of one or more Iranian satellite "is something that needs to be watched closely," a U.S. government missile analyst familiar with Iranian capabilities told AW&ST.
Such an "Iranian Sputnik" would elevate the stature of the Iran in the Middle East.
Tehran's satellite launch plans could also be a "Trojan Horse" to further advance ballistic missile or nuclear warhead related technologies, sources told the magazine.
Some of the materials and micro-electronic technologies necessary for Iranian satellite design could also be important for the development of tiny high quality components needed to produce small nuclear weapons, AW&ST reports.
The U. S. intelligence community was taken by surprise in 1998 when a North Korean satellite launch attempt unexpectedly demonstrated a long range North Korean missile capability. U. S. intelligence officials said they do not want to be surprised again, this time by Iran.
Even if they fail initially, Iranian satellite launch attempts would help Iran develop both range and warhead improvements to the Shahab-3 missile under the cover of a civilian space program, AW&ST reports.
If the Iranians are successful with the space launch program, it will have political and technological ramifications in both the U. S. and Middle East. "It would move the Iranians from the junior varsity into the big leagues," an analyst told the magazine.
And as previous experience with North Korea shows, such a space launch demonstration can have significant impact in a weapons context. "Something like that from Iran would certainly have a similar effect in the Middle East," sources told AW&ST.
Russia To Assist Brazil With Rebuilding Launch Site
Our not so best buddy, Brazil, can launch ICBM’s and they are close to developing nuclear weapons, or ICBM’s with nuclear warheads.
Consider this: "Brazil is going to be the first ever nuclear weapon state (NWS) in the Southern Hemisphere by 2010." The fear of Theodore Taylor, an American physicist and expert on nuclear weapons during the 1970s would be true, if Brazil produces the bomb. #msg-2902539 #msg-2877652 #msg-4116984
-Am
Russia To Assist Brazil With Rebuilding Launch Site
File photo of a Brazilian VLS-1 rocket launch. Moscow (SPX) May 06, 2005
Russian launch specialists will assist Brazil in rebuilding a launch site at Alcantara space center RIA Novosti reported last Thursday.
According to a Roscosmos press release the visit of the Roscosmos delegation to Brazil, deputy director of the Russian Federal Space Agency Viktor Remishevsky conducted talks with president of the Brazilian Space Agency Sergio Gaudenzi.
The sides discussed the issues of Russian assistance to Brazil in modernization and launch of Brazilian VLS-1 rocket and the launch of a Brazilian communications satellite.
In addition, Russia will help Brazil to train and launch in 2006 a Brazilian cosmonaut to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a crew of a Russian space vehicle.
Russian and Brazilian sides work in the framework of the Memorandum of understanding between Roscosmos and the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology on cooperation in the sphere of space exploration.
The Memorandum was signed on November 23, 2004 by Roscosmos director Anatoly Perminov and Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology Eduardo Campos.
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