Iran launched its first space center Sunday morning and used it to fire a "research rocket" intended to probe the correct orbit for the satellite, the Iranian news agency reported. The space center includes an underground control station and launch pad.

"We witness today that Iran has taken its first step in space very firmly, precisely and with awareness," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared. The space center will be used to fire Iran's first built-at-home satellite following a Russian-Iranian made satellite launched three years ago.

State television did not telecast pictures of the launch but showed an image of a rocket that resembled the long-range Shahab-3 missile.