TEHRAN -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that the country is determined to build heavy satellites and put them into space.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully developed the necessary technology to build and launch satellites, and we hope that we will be able to launch and use heavier satellites,” which will be designed to travel in an orbit 35,000 kilometers above the earth’s equator, Ahmadinejad stated in the northwestern city of Zanjan on Monday.
On June 17, Iran successfully launched its second domestically-manufactured satellite into orbit.
The satellite, called Rasad (Observation in English), was launched aboard Safir rocket and successfully reached orbit.
Rasad carries out topography missions and can produce high-resolution maps.
On June 19, Iran announced that it has received the first images and data sent by Rasad.