Iran has sent a monkey into space
for the second time, according to
media reports.
Iran's state TV reported that the
launch of the rocket called Pajohesh,
or Research in Farsi, marked Iran's
first use of liquid fuel in such an
operation. It said the rocket reached
a height of 72 miles before the
monkey, named Fargam or
Auspicious, was returned to Earth
safely.
"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 said.
TV footage showed the rocket
blasting off and then showed the
monkey, strapped into a seat, staring
at people clapping to celebrate its
return. The report said Fargam's
capsule parachuted safely to Earth
after detaching from the rocket in a
mission that lasted 15 minutes.
Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian
president congratulated scientists on
Saturday for the successful mission.
His website said: "President
Rouhani appreciated the Iranian
scholars for dispatch of the second
monkey named 'Fargam' into space
and its successful return.
"The president also congratulated
the supreme leader of the Islamic
revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
and the Iranian nation on the
significant achievement. He wished
further success for the Iranian
experts."
Iran said it sent its first monkey
into space in January, also reaching a
height of 72 miles.
However, one of two official
packages of photos of the space
traveller depicted the wrong monkey,
raising doubts among international
observers as to whether the launch
was as successful as reported.
Iran launches second monkey into space
