International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space:
Activities
of Member States in 2002
National Activities of Iran (Islamic Republic of)
1. Introduction
1. With a variety of natural resources, environments, climates, cultures and people and a wide area, the Islamic Republic of Iran is situated in a strategic and critical region in the world. The authorities pay great attention to the use of efficient, modern and economic tools to support their plans for good management of the country and for using its resources and the potential for improvement and sustainable development.
2. It has been realized for many years that space technology applications play an important role in promoting the sustainable development of the country. Nearly a decade ago, the Islamic Republic of Iran began to accelerate its efforts and took steps towards the peaceful application of space technologies in order to benefit from the extensive and wide advantages of space to support the country�s ongoing long-term and short-term development plans. Presently, telecommunications, television broadcasting, remote sensing, navigation, tele-education, weather forecasting, the Internet and others are widespread and common applications of space technology in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
2. Establishment of a national space agency
3. Based on activities carried out during the last three decades in different agencies, the institutionalization of a national body with the aims of policy-making, planning, budgeting, research, development and coordination of ongoing activities in different organizations within the country is in the process of being finalized. In this respect, and in order to coordinate activities in research institutions, administrative agencies and universities, a policy-making process is being carried out carefully towards the ultimate goal of making that body the core of the Iranian National Space Agency.
4. The consolidation of space activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered to be a vital necessity. The Iranian Remote Sensing Center (IRSC), affiliated to the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, in cooperation with other related bodies, is committed to the establishment of the Iranian National Space Agency. Issues concerning parliamentary approval are proceeding successfully and promisingly. Through the establishment of the Iranian National Space Agency, all space-related activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran would be covered by a single organization.
3. Space policy
5. Considering its specific conditions and geographical location, the Islamic Republic of Iran trusts that space technology and its applications can make a significant contribution to overcoming problems related to the development of the country. Using space science and technology, the Islamic Republic of Iran aims at the following achievements:
(a) Commercialization of space applications such as broadcasting, Earth observation, environmental change observations, climate prediction and surveys and mapping;
(b) Human resource development for implementation of space development in the future;
(c) Acquisition and mastery of space science and technology directed to support the development of space applications and industrial activities;
(d) Encouragement of space activities in the private sector in order to familiarize the public with space activities and integrate them into daily life;
(e) Promotion of space science and technology among Iranian youth, which will play a key role in the future of the country;
(f) Establishment of a space information system at the national
(g) Promotion of international cooperation based on principles of mutual benefits and reciprocity.
4. Capacity-building
6. Various institutes and agencies in the Islamic Republic of Iran are currently carrying out space activities according to their functions and areas of interest.
7. To build the capacity required to develop and extend its activities in different areas of the peaceful uses of space, including satellite communication, resource investigation and satellite-based positioning, satellite meteorology and natural disaster monitoring, space science and technology, the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently not only taking measures to provide required facilities, hardware and software but also extending its educational activities both by using national resources and through the implementation of bilateral, regional or international cooperation projects.
8. There are presently more than seven universities offering postgraduate courses or degree programmes in space remote sensing and GIS. In addition to those universities, other administrative bodies such as the National Cartographic Center (NCC), IRSC and the Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Center provide discipline-oriented or special courses on new space technologies.
9. To further their existing knowledge and stay up to date in their fields of interest, Iranian specialists regularly participate in short-term and long-term courses supported by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) or offered by other regional or international bodies such as the regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTE-AP), the Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Attending various seminars, symposiums, conferences and workshops also plays an important role promoting the existing expertise of Iranian scientists.
10. World Space Week ceremonies were held for the third time from 4 to 10 October 2002, another basic step for capacity-building for space science and technology applications in the country.
5. Natural resource monitoring and geomatics
11. The background of the country�s involvement in the area of applications of space remote sensing techniques and utilization of data acquired by Earth observation satellites goes back to the launch of the first commercial Earth observing satellites (Landsat series).
12. Nowadays, the Earth resources monitoring and management agencies not only are using almost any available data taken by various Earth resources satellites but also are equipped with the most advanced facilities available for data analysis and integration through the use of GIS.
13. The main agencies involved in Earth resources remote sensing activities include IRSC (the national coordinating body for Earth observation activities), the Geological and Mineral Research Survey of the Islamic Republic of Iran, affiliated to the Ministry of Mines and Metals, the Forest and Range Organization, the Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Center, the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, the Iranian National Center for Oceanography, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Petroleum and the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.
14. To expand its capabilities and to help it meet the increasing demand for newly acquired remotely sensed data from space, IRSC has decided to establish a Multi-Mission Remote Sensing Ground Station, capable of receiving data in both S- and X-band frequencies acquired by existing and future satellites. In this connection, the receiving station for data acquisition from the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor was put in service early in October 2001 in IRSC. In September 2002, the station was made capable of receiving data from the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite.
15. In addition to the activities mentioned above, NCC, a national body responsible for topographic base maps and data production, is using GPS, designed for navigation purposes, for projects including the Triangulation Networking and National Leveling Project and its subsequent linkage with regional and international GPS networks, the National 1:25000 scale Topographic Mapping Project, geodesic surveying projects, accurate levelling projects, and the Determination of the Geoid of Iran.
16. Besides NCC, the National Geographical Organization of Iran is also enjoying invaluable archives of various satellite imagery, which has enabled it to offer technical services to other administrative bodies of the country.
6. Satellite meteorology and natural disaster monitoring
17. The weather satellite receiving system PC/SAT for Meteosat primary data user stations (PDUS) and secondary data user stations (SDUS) and NOAA automatic picture transmission were installed at the Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Organization (IRIMO) headquarters in early 1992. The major highlight in operational changes is that IRIMO expanded the receiving station with high resolution picture transmission (HRPT) and meteorological data distribution units in 1998.
18. Data taken by meteorological satellites are used by the IRIMO forecasting centre not only for weather forecasting purposes but also for atmospheric disaster mitigation objectives. NOAA receiving facilities are also installed in the Iranian National Center for Oceanography and IRSC. While advanced very-high resolution radiometer data received by the IRSC acquisition system are used for Earth resource monitoring and studies as well as dissemination of results and documents in the public domain, data received by the two other agencies are used for their own studies and research projects.
19. In addition to atmospheric disasters, the National Committee on Natural Disaster Reduction, within the framework of a joint research project, is using space-based positioning systems to monitor plate movements along major active faults in Khorasan Province (in the north-eastern part of the country) and the Tehran region, both of which have historical and recent earthquake records and reactivation potential. The project is carried out through a trilateral endeavour including the Geological and Mineral Exploration Survey of Iran and NCC.
7. Satellite communications and broadcasting
20. Increasing and promising attention has been given to the application of space technologies in recent decades in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The country entered the space applications era in 1969 through establishing Asad Abad Ground Station, with the installation of a standard A antenna with a 30-metre diameter to connect to the Pacific International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Intelsat) system for international communications.
21. The telecommunication network in the Islamic Republic of Iran is essentially based on a microwave backbone with reasonable coverage in the well-populated provinces. In general, there are three communications networks in Iran with more than 1,000 ground stations providing voice and data services to the users. The number of fixed communication lines will grow from 10,000,000 in 2000 to 12,000,000 in 2003. This means that one in five of the Iranian population will own a phone line thanks to the availability of space communication technology in the Islamic Republic of Iran. There are about 300,000 cellular mobile phone subscribers with a capacity of 12,000 ports in the data network and more than 75,000 public payphones throughout the country. International communications is mainly handled by the Intelsat and Inmarsat satellite networks through more than 3,500 channels and three international gateway Earth stations.
22. The national Domsat system was put into effect in 1990 by implementing phase 1, which consisted of 7 hubs and 61 terminals configured in 7 star sub-networks. The technology employed therein was single channel per carrier quaternary phase shift keying frequency division multiple access through transponders of the Ku-band east spot of the Intelsat 63� E satellite. The Earth segment was later augmented by the installation of two star networks comprising two hubs and 900 very-small aperture terminals (VSAT) accessing the same satellite using the time division multiple access (TDMA) technique. In addition, a separate nationwide network consisting of two hubs and some 1,700 VSATs owned and operated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran is now in service.
23. Recently, a tender has been issued by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) for the acquisition of 9 gateway hubs and 300 demand assigned multiple access Earth stations using the TDMA access technique, all in the 14/11 GHz band.
24. This expansion is intended to be used to improve rural and remote area communications and also to satisfy the need for applications such as data transfer, multi-point-to-point, point-to-point, short-term and emergency communication services and Internet links. It is believed that satellite communication is a suitable solution for rural locations that are far from terrestrial telecommunication links or are facing barriers or technical problems. In this regard, TCI is planning to provide communication services for 2,000 rural locations and to 500 private users with satellite communications systems in the near future.
25. In addition, TCI is considering plans to provide telemedicine and tele-education services for locations that are within easy reach of central hospitals and universities.
26. During 2002, TCI also announced a tender for the construction and launch of two Ku-band geostationary orbit satellites, to be placed at 34� E and 47� E. The satellites are named Zohreh and are intended to take over the domestic traffic presently handled by the Intelsat satellite.
27. The Islamic Republic of Iran has one Inmarsat land Earth station near Tehran that provides services to a fleet of ships and land portable terminals of Standards A and C. In addition, TCI has signed an agreement with Intermediate Circular Orbit (ICO) Global Communications, an offspring of Inmarsat, to invest and provide mobile satellite services in the region. Furthermore, studies are ongoing to investigate the possibilities of joining various large low-Earth orbit (LEO) systems such as Globalstar and the future global mobile personal communications by satellite (GMPCS) networks.
28. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization (IRIB) has implemented many expansion projects making effective use of three 72-MHz Ku-band transponders on the 63� E Intelsat satellite. Four national television channels now broadcast nationwide, making use of 2,600 television receive-only terminals, thus rendering almost complete national television coverage.
29. IRIB has also recently launched a Ku-band television broadcast over Europe and the Middle East via the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Eutelsat) satellite. In addition, IRIB owns two C-band Earth stations relaying news items to Asiavision and also internationally through Intelsat. Two transportable Earth stations are also available for satellite news gathering transmission from any point around the country and neighboring countries.
30. IRIB owns 31 VSAT Earth stations for its private communication purposes. IRIB is also now conducting extensive studies on the transformation from analogue sound and television to digital transmission via satellite.
31. IRIB has already been using different facilities in order to broadcast and receive internal and external programmes. These activities include the use of Intelsat, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-3 and TELESTAR-5 through the utilization of four fixed stations and three portable satellite news gathering stations.
8. Space science and technology
32. As a member of the Asia-Pacific Committee on Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA), the Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the seven countries, including Bangladesh, China, Mongolia, Pakistan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, that have agreed to participate in manufacturing and launching a small multi-mission satellite. The project is continuing with good cooperation and understanding between the main partners, China, Thailand and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
33. In another initiative, the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in cooperation with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, is fostering the educational and technological development needed to take fundamental steps towards advancing space technology in the country, especially in the field of satellite design and manufacturing. To meet this goal, �Mesbah�, a small research satellite project, has been defined for design and development purposes as a microsatellite for launch to LEO. The main task of the project is to train Iranian specialists and to support Iranian research centres and universities with satellite manufacturing technologies. Objectives of this project include: (a) designing and developing a microsatellite in the amateur radio frequency band to be deployed to LEO with the aim of research, e-mail and store-and- forward data communication; and (b) scientific research work and training to gain experience and potential for developing satellite communications systems of the store-and-forward type.
34. Technological goals involved in these areas include hardware establishment, definition of steps required for space research, improvement of domestic industries for space activities and familiarization with remote sensing, Earth observation and related technologies.
35. Exploration in the outer atmosphere is another basic activity of space-related sciences within the country. In this regard, a variety of sounding rockets of low-, medium- and high-altitude capability are planned to be developed. Ionosphere studies, upper atmospheric winds, microgravity, atmospheric composition and atmospheric structure (including pressure and density) are selected topics for further investigation and to meet the objectives defined above.
36. In this respect, the country�s industries have also been encouraged to implement technological development plans for aerospace-related technologies and subsystems that can also be applied to space systems.
37. The Aerospace Research Institute (ARI), affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, is another active organization in the field of space science and technology applications that follows various space-related studies and activities in the country. The Aerodynamic Group of ARI concentrates presently on aerodynamic design and analysis of launch vehicles. The group is capable of estimating the aerodynamic coefficients and determining flow patterns around launch vehicles with various levels of accuracy required in the different phases of the design process. Planning and conducting wind-tunnel tests for validation of analytical and numerical results is also among the capabilities of the group. The Sounding Rocket Group works on sub-orbital rockets called sounding rockets and their payloads. It has carried out several study programmes in the field of sounding rockets� capabilities and applications, their payloads and the experiments conducted by them, and other related subjects. The group is capable of planning sounding rocket experiments as well as selecting and/or designing the required payloads and equipment.
38. Owing to the effects of humankind�s aerospace activities on the environmental health of the Earth, the subject of space debris has emerged in recent decades as a serious problem threatening the survival of orbiting spacecraft, space platforms and astronauts conducting spacewalks in LEO. In this regard, the orbital debris team of ARI, as a part of the Space Standards and Law Research Group, is working on a variety of subjects such as categorization, characteristics, tracking and laws regarding orbital debris. Mathematical simulation, collision probability functions and hazard analysis are the prospective topics of the group�s studies.
39. The Galactic Dynamics and Celestial Mechanics Group is a part of the Space Science and Technology Group and prepares dynamic models of galaxies and models quantitatively and qualitatively. The data and solutions are then compared with observational information for validation purposes.
9. International and regional cooperation
40. Aiming to present its willingness for worldwide and regional collaboration and to fulfil its obligations to international and regional bodies, the Islamic Republic of Iran is not only a member of several specialized agencies, such as FAO, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Meteorological Organization, and other bodies and programmes affiliated with the United Nations, but it also cooperates closely with the Regional Space Applications Programme for Sustainable Development of ESCAP. In addition, the Islamic Republic of Iran is an active member of AP-MCSTA and many other regional and international societies, institutions and projects.
41. The Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing its willingness to join the network of the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific and to establish a similar node in the country, is actively committed to establishing a centre for space science and technology applications in the Islamic Republic of Iran to realize the idea of a node of networks for space science and technology education centres.
42. Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran presently participates in various action teams that are being organized to implement the recommendations of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). In this connection, the Islamic Republic of Iran contributes jointly with the Syrian Arab Republic as the chair of action team 1 to develop a worldwide environmental monitoring strategy.