Daily Telegraph: Iran launch site 'likely for testing ballistic missiles'
8/8/2013 7:10:56 AM
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that Iran has built a new rocket launch site which is likely to be used for testing ballistic missiles.
According to military analysts publishing satellite images of the structure, the new site is close to Iran's first space centre in the northern Semnan province, noting it is designed to test ballistic missiles rather than launch space rockets.
A picture of the base taken last month and published by IHS Jane's Military and Security Assessments shows a 23m tall launch tower sitting on a launch pad measuring 200m by 140m. The picture also shows a 125m long exhaust deflector.
Analysts said the unfinished site 25 miles south east of the city of Shahrud has no storage for the liquid rocket fuel used in the Iranian space programme, suggesting it is built for ballistic missiles using solid fuel.
According to military analysts publishing satellite images of the structure, the new site is close to Iran's first space centre in the northern Semnan province, noting it is designed to test ballistic missiles rather than launch space rockets.
A picture of the base taken last month and published by IHS Jane's Military and Security Assessments shows a 23m tall launch tower sitting on a launch pad measuring 200m by 140m. The picture also shows a 125m long exhaust deflector.
Analysts said the unfinished site 25 miles south east of the city of Shahrud has no storage for the liquid rocket fuel used in the Iranian space programme, suggesting it is built for ballistic missiles using solid fuel.