Iran plans to launch two space probes to test satellites

Iran is ready to launch its Tir and Mehr probes to test Iranian satellites at the suborbital level, head of the research center, Fathollah Ommi, said.

Ommi said that suborbital tests reduce the costs of launching satellites, noting that a budget of 26 billion rials (about $892,000) will be given to the research center.

The Fajr satellite was sent into the orbit on the back of the home-made Safir-e Fajr launcher in February, which will be used in the fields of shipping, transportation, agriculture, and meteorology.

Iran launched its first indigenous satellite in 2009.