The planned launch of Iran's new Zafar satellite has been delayed "in order not to sacrifice accuracy to swiftness," said Morteza Barari, head of the country's national space agency, on Saturday, according to Radio Farda.
The spokesperson of the Iranian Defense Ministry's Space Department stated that the satellite will be launched "at the first opportunity when everything is prepared." The spokesperson added that the launch process is complicated because of the need to test new technologies, according to the Iranian Tasnim news agency.
Barai stated that the satellite was scheduled to have launched last week, had passed all tests and there were "no issues for putting it in orbit," but did not clarify why the launch was delayed.
