page_title: Science and technology in Iran
section_title: Aviation and space
hierarchical_section_title: Science and technology in Iran / Science in modern Iran / Aviation and space
caption_attribution_description: فارسی: سیمرغ - افتتاح پایگاه ملی فضایی امام خمینی(ره)
context_page_description: Iran has made considerable advances in science and technology through education and training, despite international sanctions in almost all aspects of research during the past 30 years. Iran's university population swelled from 100,000 in 1979 to 2 million in 2006. In recent years, the growth in Iran's scientific output is reported to be the fastest in the world. Iran has made great strides in different sectors, including aerospace, nuclear science, medical development, as well as stem cell and cloning research.
  Throughout history, Iran was always a cradle of science, contributing to medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Trying to revive the golden time of Iranian science, Iran's scientists now are cautiously reaching out to the world. Many individual Iranian scientists, along with the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences and Academy of Sciences of Iran, are involved in this revival.
context_section_description: On 17 August 2008, The Iranian Space Agency proceeded with the second test launch of a three stages Safir SLV from a site south of Semnan in the northern part of the Dasht-e-Kavir desert. The Safir (Ambassador) satellite carrier successfully launched the Omid satellite into orbit in February 2009. Iran is the 9th country to put a domestically-built satellite into orbit since the Soviet Union launched the first in 1957. Iran is among a handful of countries in the world capable of developing satellite-related technologies, including satellite navigation systems. Iran's first astronaut will be sent into space on board an Iranian shuttle by 2019. Iran is also the sixth country to send animals in space. Iran is one of the few countries capable of producing 20-25 ton sea patrol aircraft. In 2013, Iran constructed its first hypersonic wind tunnel for testing missiles and doing aerospace research. Iran is the 8th country capable of manufacturing jet engines.
caption: Simorgh launch. Iranian Space Agency
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