Iran is set to make another major step in improving the country's space program as reports suggested that they are planning to send another monkey into space next month.
Hamid Fazeli, the deputy head of the space agency of Iran, told the PressTV that they will send another monkey into orbit aboard a liquid fuel carrier, which is still a part of their goal of sending a manned mission into space in 2018.
"Iran will send the second monkey on board a liquid-fuel carrier," Fazeli was quoted as saying.
In January, Iran reportedly sent its first monkey into space through a capsule named "Pishgam", which means "pioneer". The monkey reportedly went back into space in good health, suggesting that their space program is on the right track.
The flight was questioned by experts, though, after before-and-after photos of the launch showed two different monkeys, with the first one being a light-furred monkey and the second one, which is said to be the monkey that returned from space in good health, is a dark-furred monkey.
Iran defended their space programs from those who are saying that the launch was faked by the space agency, saying that they committed a mistake in releasing photos, while also adding that the photo they released was also a part of the team of monkeys that they prepared for the space mission.
Fazeli, who also denied allegations that they will be using their space program to improve their nuclear programs, declined to give a specific launch date and did not clarify whether or not the monkey will be the lone animal in the planned space mission.
In September, Iran space official Mohammad Ebrahimi said in a report published in the Sydney Morning Herald that the country is also planning to send a Persian cat into orbit. The space official also added that several animals with similar weights to monkeys and Persian cats are also being considered for future flights.
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