Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran plans to send a second monkey into space within 45 days, Iran Space Agency director Hamid Fazeli has said, according to Iranian media.

He said that Iran intends to send it aboard the Pishgam (Pioneer) II space capsule.

Iran had successfully sent a monkey into space and brought it back to Earth safely in January.

Fazeli expressed hope that the monkey would be sent into space successfully and return safely this time as well.

Unlike the first rocket which was solid-fueled, the Pishgam II rocket will use liquid propellant, Fazeli said.

He added that the space agency planned to launch the Tadbir (Prudence) research satellite as well as Sharif and Nahid satellites into space by the end of the Iranian calendar year, which ends on March 20, 2014.

Iran Space Agency's research center director Mohammad Ebrahimi said on September 7 that Iran will send a monkey, a mouse, a rabbit or a cat into space.

Physical and technical tests have been conducted on a number of animals and the animal will be sent into space in the near future, he added.

Ebrahimi said it is predicted that the required permits will be issued within the next 1.5 months.

On January 28, 2013, Iran sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule, code-named Pishgam (Pioneer), as a prelude to sending humans on space missions.

Iran, a founding member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, launched its first domestically made data processing satellite the Omid (Hope) in 2009.

Iran frequently says that it will push ahead with its space program in the coming years.