Iran to launch monkey into space

A successful return for a primate payload would be a feather in Iran's cap (Image: Vahidreza Alaei/AFP/Getty)

• 16:28 03 August 2012 by Nicola Guttridge

Iran isn't a country with a high profile in space tourism – but that could soon change. On Wednesday, the Iran Space Agency (ISA) announced its intention to launch a live Rhesus monkey into space. But can it bring the animal back?

A previous attempt to launch a craft carrying a monkey failed last October, stalling Iran's space ambitions. Now the mission is back on track, with a launch planned for mid-August, after the Islamic month of Ramadan ends.

MORE: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22136-iran-space-agency-to-launch-a-monkey-into-space.html

Source: New Scientist Magazine

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