Salman Rocket Sends Animals into Orbit for Human Space Missions

Iran – Iran is reportedly sent a capsule into orbit capable of carrying animals as it prepares for human missions in coming years.

A report by the official IRNA news agency quoted Telecommunications Minister Isa Zarepour as saying the capsule was launched 130 kilometers (80 miles) into orbit.

Zarepour said the launch of the 500-kilogram (1,000-pound) capsule is aimed at sending Iranian astronauts to space in coming years. He did not say if any animals were in the capsule.

He told state TV that Iran plans to send astronauts into space by 2029 after further tests involving animals.

State TV showed footage of a rocket named Salman carrying the capsule.

The launch of the 500-kilogram capsule is in preparation for sending Iranian astronauts into space in the future, Zarepour said, although he did not provide details on the type of animals sent in the capsule. 

The Salman rocket carried the "all domestically made" capsule, which is reportedly the heaviest biological capsule ever successfully carried in the history of Iran's space program. 

The capsule was ordered by the Iranian Space Agency and developed by the aerospace division of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. 

Its rocket was built by the space wing of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics. Hossein Dalirian, spokesman for the Iranian space agency, uploaded a video about X. 

"Launching a bio capsule from a new perspective," he wrote. 

Iran began working on sending animals into space in the mid-2000s and successfully conducted its first launch in 2010. Iran reported in 2013 that it had sent two monkeys into space and brought them back. 

Dalirian claims that President Ebrahim Raisi's administration has "effectively revived" efforts to achieve Iran's long-term goal of sending humans into space. 

Critics of centrist former President Hassan Rouhani argue that his administration halted Iran's space program - including the development of long-range ballistic missiles - in favor of engagement with the West that ultimately failed. 

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However, with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal still in limbo following the United States' unilateral withdrawal in 2018 that included the imposition of major sanctions on Iran, Tehran has conducted several high-profile space launches, including military launches.