Who Needs NASA to Boost Muslims' Self Esteem When You Have the Grandiose Ayatollah's "Indigenous Satellite"?

The Khomeinists are crowing about their latest space age-y achievement:

President of Sharif University of Technology says Iranian experts have finished the construction of an indigenous satellite called Sharif Sat, which has been delivered to Iran Space Agency to be lifted into the space.

Reza Rousta Azad said on Tuesday that the satellite, which weighs less than 50 kilograms and will be launched on board the indigenous Safir B-1 carrier, will be placed into a Low Earth orbit (LEO) at an altitude between 350 kilometers (217 miles) and 500 kilometers (310 miles) above the Earth's surface.

He added that the satellite will capture images with an accuracy of less than 10 meters and then transmit them to stations on earth.

Rousta Azad further noted that nearly 150 Iranian university students and academics were involved in designing and constructing the indigenous satellite.

Iran launched its first indigenous satellite, Omid (Hope), in 2009. The country also sent its first bio-capsule containing living creatures into the space in February 2010, using the indigenous Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) carrier.

Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was set up in 1959. 

Now, that's funny!