Three Researchers Die in “Fire” at Space Research Institute

The Minister of Communications announced that three space researchers have lost their lives in a “fire” that occurred at the space research institute. He added that due to a ceremony that was being held simultaneously, officials “discovered the fire late”.

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Iran’s Minister of Communications, announced on Sunday, February 3rd (14th of Bahman) on the sidelines of the National Space Technology Day ceremony that a “fire” has occurred in one of the research institutes of Iran’s Space Research Institute, resulting in the death of three researchers.

Without referring to the time and location of the “fire”, Azari Jahromi added that officials “discovered the fire late because a ceremony was being held simultaneously with the fire”.

Iran’s Space Research Institute has five research institutes including two systemic research institutes named Satellite Systems and Space Transportation Systems in Tehran, three research institutes in provincial centers titled Space Engines, Mechanics and Materials, and Energy respectively in Tabriz, Shiraz, and Isfahan, and one research center. It is unclear which research institute the “fire” occurred in.

According to Mehr News Agency, the Minister of Communications stated that an expert team is investigating the causes of this accident.

On the institute’s website, it is stated: Iran’s Space Research Institute, which was established based on a permit from the Supreme Council of Expansion of Higher Education in 2011 to meet some of the country’s needs in the field of space science and technology, is affiliated with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology based on a resolution dated November 29, 2014 of the Supreme Administrative Council.

According to the website’s information, Dr. Hossein Samimi currently serves as the director of this institute.

No News of “Doosti” Satellite Launch

Tabnak website on Sunday, February 3rd, without reference to the news of the “fire” at Iran’s Space Research Institute, complained: “On the 14th of Bahman, despite expectations, there is no news of the launch of the “Doosti” satellite into space; one of the two launches that Rouhani promised to carry out in a gathering of people in Golestan and it was thought that everything was ready for its implementation, but apparently it was not.”.

Tabnak refers to the failed launch of the “Payam” satellite and adds that the former “Sharif-Sat” and current “Doosti” are the names of Iran’s second satellite that will be launched into space in 2018.

Apparently, the Minister of Communications had said that on the tenth anniversary of space technology, the “Doosti” satellite would be launched into Earth’s orbit, but this did not happen; instead, news of the “fire” was announced.

Source: DW