Iran is planning to send a new generation of satellites into orbit to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic republic's establishment, Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi has said.

On Friday, Iran announced that it successfully launched an observation satellite into orbit, reported Xinhua.

The spacecraft, named Navid (Herald) and weighing 50 kg, can take pictures at altitudes of about 250 km to 375 km from the earth.

The launch of Navid satellite using Safir satellite carrier was not simply an aerospace operation, but stood for creativity, self-reliance and wisdom of Iran's aerospace engineers, Press TV quoted Vahidi as saying Sunday.

Tehran plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019, the media report said.

Iran to set up space launch base
Tehran, Feb 4 (IANS) Iran plans to establish a national satellite launch base in the southeast of the country, adjacent to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, Press TV reported.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered the cabinet to approve the plan and earmark funding for the project, space agency chief Hamid Fazeli said.

RIA Novosti reported that earlier Friday, Iran successfully launched an observation satellite, Navid (Harbinger), to take pictures of the Earth at low altitudes of 250 to 370 km.

Tehran launched its first domestically-produced satellite Omid (Hope) in 2009, an endeavour which made it the ninth country having the capability to launch satellites.

Iran also plans to launch the country's first manned mission into space by 2019.

Source: Indo-Asia News Service