TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian satellite-carrying rocket blasted off into space Tuesday, but scientists failed to put the device into orbit in a launch criticized by the United States as helping Iran further develop its ballistic missile program. Iran, which long has said it does not seek nuclear weapons, maintains its satellite launches and rocket tests do not have a military component. The rocket carrying the Payam satellite failed to reach the “necessary speed” in the third stage of its launch, Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said. It is larger than an earlier model known as the Safir, or “ambassador,” that Iran previously used to launch satellites. Over the past decade, Iran has sent several short-lived satellites into orbit and in 2013 launched a monkey into space.

Source: Egypt Independent January 16, 2019 12:22 UTC