Iran announced on Saturday its successful second attempt of sending a monkey into outer space as part of its ambitious project that deals with manipulated space flight.
In October, Iran announced its plan of sending a second monkey to space by end of November after its first successful attempt of sending the first monkey aboard a space capsule called “Pishgam” or Pioneer in January.
On Saturday, the country’s state TV reported that Iran had launched the “Pajohesh” (Research) rocket using liquid fuel. It was able to reach a total height of 72 miles. The monkey, named as “Fargam” or Auspicious, was safely returned to Earth.
The TV footage showed how the rocket blasted off with the monkey strapped and placed snugly in a seat. Equipped with parachute, Fargam’s capsule safely returned to Earth after it had been detached from the rocket. The mission is said to have lasted 15 minutes.
Iran often claims breakthroughs in the technological field which are impossible to be authenticated independently. The country, an Islamic Republic, added that it also plans to send a space-bound astronaut.
With the Pajohesh launch, Iran is one step closer to its dream of sending human into space.
"The launch of Pajohesh is another long step getting the Islamic Republic of Iran closer to sending a man into space," the official IRNA news agency told CNN.
The male monkey Fargam comes from the rhesus macaque race. Aside from weighing 3 kilograms, it measures 22 inches in height and has a pink face and brown fur.
The Iranian origin rocket is built with new features such as electronic devices and sonic sensors. These had allowed the scientists to monitor the monkey’s voice and vital signs.
Iran is planning to make its first human launch by 2018 as soon as it completes all the flight tests conducted on animals. The agency will continue to send other animals before then. They plan to send a cat into space by 2014.
