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Iran’s military satellite a ‘tumbling webcam in space,' Space Force commander says
The first satellite launched into space by Iran last week that revealed the country's secret military space program is nothing but “a tumbling webcam in space," the head of the U.S military's newest service said Saturday.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday it put up a “Noor," or "Light," satellite into a low orbit circling the Earth after using a mobile launcher at a new launch site.
U.S. Space Force commander Gen. Jay Raymond gave his military assessment on Twitter late Saturday afternoon of the satellite.
"Iran states it has imaging capabilities—actually, it’s a tumbling webcam in space," he tweeted.
Gen. Jay Raymond
@SpaceForceCSO
@US_SpaceCom
continues to track 2 objects
@PeteAFB
’s
@18SPCS
associated w/#space launch from Iran, characterizing NOUR 01(#SATCAT 45529) as 3U Cubesat. Iran states it has imaging capabilities—actually, it’s a tumbling webcam in space; unlikely providing intel. #spaceishard
4:19 PM · Apr 25, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
https://twitter.com/SpaceForceCSO/status/1254158221243277315
The paramilitary force said it used a "Qased," or “Messenger,” satellite carrier to put the device into space, a previously unheard-of system. It described the system as using both liquid and solid fuel.
Senior U.S. officials have long warned the same technology used to put a satellite into space is also used to make long-range missiles capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.
While Iran isn’t known to have the know-how to miniaturize a nuclear weapon for a ballistic missile, any advances toward an intercontinental ballistic missile would put Europe and potentially the U.S. in range. Iran long has said it limits its ballistic missiles' range to 1,240 miles under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's orders, which puts the Mideast but not the West in its reach.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/iran-military-satellite-us-space-force-commander-tumbling-webcam