Iran launches second space shot with monkey on board

TEHRAN,Dec.15(MNA) – Iran successfully sent a monkey into space for a second time and returned it to Earth safely as part of the country’s program to achieve manned space flight. According to the Iranian Space Agency website, the monkey, named Fargam, which means “auspicious” in Persian, was sent into space aboard a domestically designed and manufactured Pajoohesh (Research) rocket on Saturday. The rocket, which uses liquid fuel, reached a height of 120 kilometers and returned to Earth after a 15-minute mission. The launch was part of the activities of Iran’s national Research Week. According to the report, Iranian scientists were able to monitor and measure signals from the rocket, including Fargam’s vital signs, during the flight. In a message published on Twitter, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated the Iranian nation and the Leader over the “great achievement” and told the Iranian scientists and researchers who worked on the project that he wished them more success in their endeavors. Iran successfully sent a monkey into space aboard a Pishgam (Pioneer) rocket, formerly known as the Kavoshgar-5 (Explorer-5), and brought it back to Earth safely in January 2013. Iran is now among a handful of countries that are able to launch living creatures into space.