State Dept.: Iranian space monkey launch unconfirmed
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
When the Iranian government announced this morning the successful launch of a monkey into space, animal lovers and national security experts alike had reason for concern: Such a move would represent a significant scientific development with regard to Iran's ability to launch long-range ballistic missiles; also, in pictures provided by the Iranian government, the monkey looked pretty terrified.
According to the State Department, however, the U.S. can't confirm whether or not "the poor little monkey" ever actually made it into orbit.
"I saw the monkey - the pictures of the poor little monkey preparing to go to space," said Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the State Department, when asked about "extraterrestrial primates." "We don't have any way to confirm this one way or the other with regard to the primate."
Still, Nuland noted general U.S. concern with "Iran's development of space launch vehicle technologies," and said the State Department would be working closely with partners and allies "to address our concerns about Iran's missile developments, including by promoting implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions."
If such a launch were to have taken place, according to Nuland, it would be illegal under the 1929 U.N. Security Council resolution, adopted in 2010, that prohibits Iran from undertaking any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.
"But I'm not in a position here today to confirm whether or not there was a launch," she insisted.
Asked to clarify if she meant whether she could not confirm the successful launch of the monkey, or a launch at all, Nuland said she could confirm "neither monkey nor launch... nor launched monkey."
Iran would hardly be the first country to send a monkey into space: NASA sent a monkey, named Albert, to space in 1948. Unlike Iran's monkey, which according to its government returned from orbit safe and sound, Albert died.
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This rocketing of a monkey into space signals the culmination of an effort I launched that bright hot day in June 09...
I hope my letters gave you much inspiration...
They should have, I mean heck, I wrote to you everyday..I mean every day, on planes, trains and automobiles..while running through the woods..
All times of the day...
I wrote about things that are important...Like the monkey to space...Like be honest about the nuclear thing...Life's too short for so many these days..How about lighten up a bit..The People of the World need it...Just give it a thought..
And then there was those trivial things, like favorite foods & decent Americans and their lifelong battles with the gop...
Have to ponder why you never wrote back..
I guess you must be very busy..Thats cool...My feelers are not hurt..
Once the monkey was launched that ended our one way pen pal relationship..
I will no longer write..
But when I look to the Stars, or at monkeys I will smile...
Regards....
Trying to Stay sane in an insane World..
http://www.lightlybraisedturnip.com/obama-to-share-rocket-tech/