Iran has once again failed to launch a satellite into orbit, less than a month after its first attempt to do so. While the first failed attempt did not reach “the required speed in the third stage” of the launch, Iranian officials and media outlets attempted to hide this week’s launch, to avoid a second public embarrassment. Despite Tehran’s efforts to keep its attempted-launch secret, satellite images that were released by Digital-Globe and Planet Labs, purported to show “burn-scars on a newly painted launchpad” at the Imam Khomeini Space Center, which suggests – according to analysts – that a launch took place. According to two separate analysts who reviewed the images for TV7, “a launch was clearly attempted this week.” “And the fact that Iran remained silent about it, clearly indicates yet another failure – probably mid-flight.” The Iranian Communications ministry, which oversees Iran’s Space Center, did not immediately respond to TV7’s request for comment.
