The United States considers Iran's launching of a Kavoshgar-3 rocket a "provocative act," White House spokesman Bill Burton told journalists on Wednesday.
Iran said on Wednesday it had successfully launched a satellite carrying an "experimental capsule" as part of events to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
"A launch like that is obviously a provocative act," Burton said in Washington. "But the president believes that it is not too late for Iran to do the right thing -- come to the table with the international community and live up to its international obligations."
State media said the domestically-built Kavoshgar-3 (Explorer-3) rocket was carrying a rat, a turtle and worms into space for research purposes. The rocket transfers telemetric data, live pictures and flight and environmental analysis data.
Kavoshgar 3 is an updated version of the previous models. Iran blasted Kavoshgar 1 into space in February 2008. Kavoshgar 2, carrying a space-lab and a restoration system, was launched in November 2008.
In other space-related events in Iran, national media showed President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiling a new domestically-built satellite booster rocket, Simorgh, capable of carrying a 100-kg satellite up to 500 km above the planet.
The Islamic Republic also presented the domestically-produced Tolou, Mesbah-2 and Navid telecommunication satellites.
Western powers suspect Iran of using its space program to develop its missile capabilities. Iran has denied the charge.
Iran's first research satellite, Omid (Hope), designed for gathering information and testing equipment, was orbited last February and successfully completed its mission on April 25, 2009.
In 2005, Iran launched its first commercial satellite, Sina-1, into orbit from a Russian rocket.
Iran is expected to unveil five space projects during Feb 2-11 celebrations to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.
WASHINGTON, February 3 (RIA Novosti)
