CBNNews.com - TEHERAN, Iran - Iranian state television announced the successful launch of the Islamic Republic's first "homemade" research and telecommunications satellite.

"In another achievement for Iranian scientists under sanctions, Iran launched its first homemade Omid [hope] satellite into orbit," state television reported.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the satellite aimed at "expanding monotheism."

"Iran's presence in space, with the aim of expanding monotheism, peace and justice, has now been officially recorded in history," Ahmadinejad said.

The satellite's launch was planned to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The station, which broadcast video footage of the launch, said the satellite would orbit for one to three months, before returning with data that would be used to build and launch an "operational satellite."

In 2005, Iran launched the Sina-1 satellite using a Russian missile.

Source: Reuters