The Associated Press reports that Iran has opened a new space center, and launched a rocket that – at least according to the country's state TV – has reached space.
What that means remains a matter for some debate. A similar rocket launched by Iran last April didn't make orbital height. Iranian State TV reported today that the Explorer-1 rocket was "launched into space," and that the country has thus "joined the world's top 11 countries possessing space technology to build satellites, and launch rockets into space."
The AP cites suspicions by unnamed experts that the rocket launches are a cover for developing military ballistic missiles. I'm going to hazard a guess that this isn't going to calm anybody's concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
According to Reuters, a White House spokesman called the launch "unfortunate."
Iran launches rocket, opens space center [AP]
White House calls Iran rocket launch "unfortunate"[Reuters]
Iran tests rocket, plans to launch satellite [Reuters]
