Iran fires rocket 'into space', plans satellite for '09 | The Register

Iran's announcements of scientific and technical achievement should be taken with a grain of salt, but if true this is a sign that space is within reach of more and more countries:

Iran fires rocket 'into space', plans satellite for '09 | The Register: "The Islamic Republic of Iran announced yesterday that it had fired a rocket 'into space' and transmitted footage of the launch on state media. The move drew instant condemnation from the Bush administration in America."