Iran: We've sent a monkey to space

An image from Iran's Press TV, broadcast on Jan. 28, 2013, shows a scientist holding a monkey which the Islamic Republic claims was successfully rocketed into space, and then retrieved safely. / PressTV

TEHRAN, Iran Iranian state TV says the country has successfully sent a monkey into space in what's described as another step toward Tehran's goal of a manned space flight.

Monday's report said the monkey was sent up in a Pishtam, or Explorer, rocket to a height of 72 miles. It gave no other details on the timing or location of the launch, but said the monkey returned safely.

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Iran has said it seeks to send an astronaut into space as part of its ambitious aerospace program. In 2010, Iran said it launched a rocket into space carrying a mouse, turtle and worms.

The U.S. and its allies worry that technology from the space program could also be used to develop long-range missiles that could potentially be armed with nuclear warheads.

An image from Iran's Press TV, broadcast on Jan. 28, 2013, shows a monkey which the Islamic Republic claims was successfully rocketed into space, and then retrieved safely.

/ PressTV

[Patrickdh10]

Did they send up the Ayatollah?

[USAthinker]

It should come as NO surprise that Iran has sent a monkey into space!
They have put monkeys in charge of their government since 1979!

May Iran be FREE and DEMOCRATIC soon!

[Observer-2]

Here's a vide rport of it . . . http://youtu.be/CYUAov1UcLc

[imnho]

I did not know that the sent IAMANUTJOB into space

[VO142857]

It was the best Astronaut they could find.

[donottrustdems]

Never happened.

[Jon_MD]

It's all BS. How do you send a rocket into space and recover the monkey without anyone knowing it? All of our recoveries were done in international waters supported by a large naval operation. What, the rocket went straight up and came back down in Iranian waters? Highly unlikely. The Iranians aren't too smart to lie about this because it gives Isreal, the US and other countries ammo to go after their nuclear program.

[jnostromo]

First monkeys as their leader of govt and religion now a monkey in space..Great strides for this cesspool

[quincytodd]

Let's wish the Iranians the best of luck. We and the Iranians need to somehow come together instead of engaging in all this stupid confrontation which is getting us nowhere!

[abelinone]

We send ours to Congress.