Iran Joins Asian Satellite-Building Project http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9001140495

The Iranian Space Agency announced that it plans to design and build a remote sensing satellite jointly with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO). "Iranian scientists have always taken part in APSCO meetings," Head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA) Hamid Fazeli told the Iranian students news agency, adding that, "designing and building a remote-sensing satellite is one of the fields for cooperation." "We plan to gain a larger share in building the satellite," he continued, "the country's share is to be set based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but Iran is struggling to gain a larger share." 

Earlier this year, Iran announced that it plans to launch its home-made photography and observation satellite named 'A Test' to an orbit 661km in distance from the Earth in 2012. "The flying sample of the Iranian A Test satellite will be constructed in 2012 and will be launched in the same year to an orbit 661km in altitude," Manager of 'A Test' Satellite Designing and Building Project Mostafa Safavi told FNA.