Iran to Hurtle Another Monkey Into Space Within A Month – Report

Iran will blast another space monkey within a month, according to a report in the Iranian Web site Press TV.

Quoting Hamid Fazeli, deputy head of the Iran Space Agency, Press TV said the second monkey will be blasted into space "on board a liquid-fuel carrier" by the end of November 2013.

Iran likewise intends to send "other species into space during the next stages of the project." The monkey, Mr Fazeli said, was "a prelude to sending humans on space missions."

In September, Iran said it plans to send a Persian cat, a long-haired, flat-faced breed named after Iran's former name of Persia, into space before March 21. Other animals being considered thrown into the fray include a mouse and rabbit.

Early in October, Mr Fazeli likewise announced Iran will hurtle into space three locally designed satellites before the current Iranian calendar year ends on March 20, 2014.

In January 2013, Iran boasted it had successfully launched into space and back a monkey as part of its space plan programs.

The first monkey, tightly strapped to what resembled like an infant's car seat and wearing body protection, was sent into space inside an Iranian-built Kavoshgar 5 rocket.

Although it does plan to send humans into space, Ahmad Vahidi, Iranian Defense Minister, said in January that the process "would be a lengthy one."

"This is a big step for our experts and scientists," Mr Vahidi had said. The rocket that carried the first monkey went 120 km into orbit.

Video Source: PressTVGlobalNews

Space agency experts from Western countries had expressed anxiety over Iran's foray of sending live species into outer space.

"Our concern with Iran's development of space-launch vehicle technologies are obviously well known," Victoria Nuland, U.S. State Department spokeswoman, earlier said. "Any space-launch vehicle capable of placing an object in orbit is directly relevant to the development of long-range ballistic missiles."

Video Source: Mohammad Mohsenipur