Iran fired a research rocket into space on Monday from a newly space center built in the southeast of Tehran , the rocket called Kavoshgar-1 means Eashercher-1, a preparation for a planned launching Iran’s first domestically made satellite.

Sean McCormack, the State Department spokesman, said the launching “is just another troubling development, in that the kinds of technologies and capabilities that are needed in order to launch a space vehicle for orbit are the same kinds of capabilities and technologies that one would employ for long-range ballistic missiles.” 

The Iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad said on stat-run tv “We need to have an active presence in space. We witness today that Iran has taken its first step in space very firmly, precisely and with awareness.”

The launching of the rocket came during the 10-day celebration for the 29th anniversary of the country’s Islamic Revolution of Feb. 11, 1979. The altitude of the rocket was not announced, although the state media said it was fired into space, which is considered to be about 60 miles from the earth