<![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test - io9 Comments]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test - io9 Comments]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Ryan.H:

I would agree, except for the fact that they don't seem very rational......

Uh, yeah, I'm REAL happy to have those guys floatin' shit over our heads! Neat!

Habu

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: Well, they wouldn't use the satellites to drop stuff on us, but as others have said; space launcher=ICBM.

OTOH, not an immediate threat.
-Kle.


Klebert L. Hall

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> No gay people were used in the preparation or launch of the satellite. They were launched in the satellite according to the Iranian President.

SciFiCowboy

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Frozen-Tex: Well, except for the argument that Israel could rain many more unhappy things back down in Iran.

7Zark7 Iz In Ur Internetz

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @ManchuCandidate: Keep in mind, too, that any rocket that can put a satellite into LEO is the most difficult component of an ICBM. I don't think Iran has that exclusively in mind, but it would be silly to expect they haven't thought of it. And remember, the Mercury Redstone and Titan rockets were some of our first ICBMs.

Gopherit

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @7Zark7 Iz In Ur Internetz: Well, I don't think there's All that much debate as to why they'd rain down unhappy things on Israel...

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> Of course, why Iran would rain down missles or satellites or moon rocks on Israel, Saudi Arabia, or anywhere else is up for debate.

Any word on what the satellite they're going to launch will do? My bet is it'll emulate Sputnik: "BEEP."

Well, whatever "BEEP" is in Farsi.

7Zark7 Iz In Ur Internetz

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @ManchuCandidate: "Yeah, Israel is a target, but so is Cairo, Riyadh, Oman, Ankara, etc. "

True enough; Israel just was the first to spring to mind, and the most publicly stated one. But yeah, any of the "secularly" governed Islamic countries could ultimately be a target for Iran's mullahs.

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: That's possible, but they seem to be doing that by using insurgents, and Shi'ite influence, like the Sadrists. Besides, who wants fallout right next door? And if they want to conquer Iraq, then they don't want it destroyed. But wiping Israel "off the map" is another thing...

Or, maybe they'll just put up a comms satellite to broadcast Khomeini's Greatest Fatwas.

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak:
Not really anymore. Who'd want to wade into that mess? Besides, the Iraqis are Arabs and the Iranians are Persians. It might not seem like a big deal, but I wouldn't want to call an Arab, a Persian or visa versa as neither group likes each other all that much for various reasons.

Iran's mullahs aren't really big on exporting their revolution because it costs too much and they're having a hard enough time with their own nation and economy (which is getting worse.) Oil is the only thing keeping their economy afloat.

@Frozen-Tex:
Heh. Yeah, Israel is a target, but so is Cairo, Riyadh, Oman, Ankara, etc.

ManchuCandidate

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Frozen-Tex: @ManchuCandidate: Doesn't Iran still have ambitions about conquering Iraq? I wonder if maybe that's a more likely target.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Frozen-Tex: Aha! Good one.

Annalee Newitz

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: "America is a nation completely without shame."
Seriously, if we had any decency we wouldn't leave Florida out there for any passing satellite to see...


Morgan

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @ManchuCandidate: You're right, of course, silly me for not checking. I was going by stuff I read in an Tom Clancy book. Still, given Ahmadinajad's rhetoric, Israel would be a more likely target for them than the States.

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Frozen-Tex:
The Israelis have their own anti missile system (Arrow, paid for with US America dollars) and do use the Jericho SSM as a nuke delivery system.

ManchuCandidate

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Annalee: I got yer Iranian candy right here...

[blog.wired.com]

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @wingbatwu: Very well! I stand corrected.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak:

Baklava is Turkish

wingbatwu

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: Well, then... Surveil, surveil, surveil! Surveilly McSurveillance!

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @extracrispy: Well, keep in mind that if they could weaponize it, and stick a nuke on it, that only one or two might not be much of a threat to North America, especially with the anti-missile system being assembled now, it's much more of a threat to Iran's favourite regional neighbor, Israel. It wouldn't take many warheads to glass Israel, and using missiles means it would all be over before the Israelis could scramble their bombers (Israel's nuclear arsenal is aircraft delivered, rather than by missile).

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Frozen-Tex: It is a word, actually. It, unfortunately, does not see the use it should.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Annalee: Still, that didn't stop the White House from calling this launch "unfortunate." Welcome to the nation of fear.

extracrispy

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> Now taking bets on "mysterious launch failure".

strider_mt2k

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: Yes, why surveil (is that a word???) from space when it's all on TV and the internet anyway?

Frozen-Tex

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Annalee: Yeah, the idea of another country surveilling us doesn't really bother me as much. America is a nation completely without shame.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Ryan.H: Honestly, this launcher is for satellites. I'd be less worried about missiles launching from it than surveillance satellites.

Annalee Newitz

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @Ryan.H: Okay. That's kind of what I was thinking, and it's good to hear it confirmed from someone that definitely acts like he knows what he's talking about.

(No offense. It is the internet.)

@Annalee: Also, isn't Baklava Greek?

Even if it's not, I'll be the Iranians make a lot of stuff with honey. I could get behind that.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> How possible is it? Very. What goes up must come down. by definition, anything capable of putting a satellite in orbit has the reach for anywhere on the globe.

Realistically? They don't have the armament to wipe anyone out. And anyone worth launching this against could glass their country. So, unless they are attacked first and have nothing to lose, it's never going to be used that way.

Ryan H

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> @braak: I bet Iranian candy is damn good. I'll take a payload of baklava please!

Annalee Newitz

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> All right, someone with a good sciency-background--how likely/possible is it that someone could use satellites to drop stuff on us? I mean, horrible stuff. Not like candy. If Iran wanted to drop candy on us, that'd be okay.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[Iran Goes to Space with First Successful Satellite Launcher Test]]> "the country's space program is for peaceful, scientific endeavors"
BUH WA HA ha, cough... yea, right.
ABM anyone?

deckard97

]]>