Pat Dollard | Young Americans

An Iranian missile is launched in this file photo during a military maneuver dubbed “al-Rasoul al-Aazam,” or Greater Prophet in a desert near the holy city of Qom 80 miles (130 kilometers) south of Tehran on November 22, 2006. The Iranian military reportedly test-fired nine missiles July 9, 2008, including one that Tehran claims can reach Israel. The missiles reported tested were long- and medium-range arms, including a new version of the Shahab-3 Iranian officials said can strike targets 1,250 miles away, The New York Times reported. Iran warned Israel and the United States it would retaliate against an attack. Israel has expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. (UPI Photo/Hossein Fatemi/Fars News Agency)

August 19, 2008

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran’s attempt to launch a dummy satellite into orbit was a “dramatic failure” that fell far short of the country’s assertions of success, a U.S. official said on Tuesday

“The attempted launch failed,” the official said.

“The vehicle failed shortly after liftoff and in no way reached its intended position,” the official said. “It could be characterized as a dramatic failure.”

Iran, embroiled in a standoff with the West over its nuclear ambitions, said on Sunday it has put a dummy satellite into orbit on a home-grown rocket for the first time, using a technology that could also be used for launching weapons. Iran says it has no nuclear-weapons plans and that it seeks nuclear technology to generate electricity.

Iranian television showed the rocket on its launch pad, but did not show the actual lift-off.

“The failed launch shows that the purported Iranian space program is in its nascent stages at best — they have a long way to go,” the U.S. official said.