Iran Monkey Into Space

By: Pat Prescott
06/28/2011 03:05 PM ET

An Iran monkey space project is in the works. The first monkey by a rocket made in Iran is planned for launch. The country’s space agency is currently performing tests on five primates in advance of sending one on board a Kavoshgar-5 rocket.

Last year the country conducted similar tests, sending a rocket carrying a mouse, a turtle, and worms into space. Iran hopes to have a manned mission to launch by 2017. The launch that will include the Iran monkey space will take place next month.

Iran’s advancing technology has raised fears with the U.S. and its allies that Iran would tip its rockets with nuclear war heads. But Iran denies the allegations saying it is only interested in nuclear reactors for producing energy. Ironically, the nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program.

The support, encouragement and participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran’s nuclear program continued until the 1979 Iranian Revolution that toppled the Shah of Iran. After the 1979 revolution, the Iranian government temporarily disbanded elements of the program, and then revived it with less Western assistance than during the pre-revolution era. Iran’s nuclear program has included several research sites, two uranium mines, a research reactor, and uranium processing facilities that include three known uranium enrichment plants.

Iran is an active participant in the Asian space race and became an orbital-launch-capable nation in 2009. Iran is one of the 24 founding members of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, which was set up in 1958.