Iranian Space Agency

In 1974 the Office for Collecting Satellite Data was established in Iran’s Management and Planning Organization, and the use of remote sensing technology began at this office under “Satellite Utilization Plan”. Once preliminary studies were conducted and the desired outcome achieved, the office was renamed “Iranian Remote Sensing Center” in order to give it direct access to satellite images. In 1977 and under the “Satellite Utilization Plan,” the Center succeeded in establishing a ground station to receive remote sensing satellite images, making Iran the fourth country in the world to directly receive and process satellite imagery. Iranian Space Agency (ISA) was established in 2004 according to the Article 9 of the Law for Tasks and Authorizations of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology passed on 10 December 2003 by the Parliament of Iran. Based on the approved statute, ISA mandated to cover and support all the activities in Iran (Iranian Remote Sensing Center & Telecommunication Company of Iran) concerning the peaceful applications of space science and technology under the leadership of a Supreme Council of Space chaired by Iran’s President. In 2008 the statute of the Iranian Space Agency was confirmed by legal authorities and was declared by the first Vice President of Iran to all executive bodies in the country.

On 29 September 2010, the mission of Iranian Space Agency was promoted by the ruling of the Supreme Council of the governmental administrative office. According to that, all the active authorities in space field were integrated under the umbrella of Iranian space Agency and the governance has been detached from the Ministry of ICT and is granted to the Iranian Presidency.