Russian rocket launches Iranian satellite into orbit

Soyuz-2.1b rocket carried the Iranian satellite and 18 Russian satellites into orbit. PIC/AP

A Russian rocket on Thursday successfully put an Iranian satellite into orbit, a launch that underlined increasingly close cooperation between Moscow and Tehran.

Russia's state-run Roscosmos corporation said that a Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny launch facility in the country's far east to carry the Iranian satellite and 18 Russian satellites into orbit.

The Iranian state TV said the 110-kilogram (242-pound) satellite has three cameras to take images for environmental, agricultural and other purposes.

Iran's state TV said the satellite will be put into orbit around the North and South Poles, synchronised to be in the same position relative to the Sun, and will be fully functional after a calibration of its systems.

Iran's Communication Minister Isa Zarepour told the TV that Iran's space programme has had a total of 23 launches, including 12 during President Ebrahim Raisi's administration.

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