Iran announced it newest plan to launch a second monkey into outer space by November of this year, according to HNGN.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the Iranian Space Agency deputy head Hamid Fazeli, according to the Associated Press. In January, Iran successfully launched a monkey on board a space capsule which they code-named "Pishgam" or Pioneer.
Fazeli said "the space agency has already completed the necessary preparations to send another animal into space. The monkey will be sent into space aboard a 'liquid-fuel carrier' by the end of November." Iran also plans to launch three satellites, Tadbir, Prudence, Sharifsat and Nahid by the end of March next year, according to the IBTimes.
In 2013, Iran was able to successfully launch two satellites into orbit called the Harbinger in Space and Navid-e Elm-o Sanat. The country also launched the orbiter Rasad or Observer. 2018 will hopefully mark Iran's first launching of humans into outer space. This will be done soon after they complete all the flight tests conducted on animals.
However, the idea of launching animals have been criticized by PETA advocates who claimed that cats, for instance, have very complex personalities and are capable of feeling extreme pain. Still, Iran has expressed that it had successfully launched a turtle, mouse and worms into space before it sent the first monkey in January of this year.
Critics, continued to remain skeptic about Iran's plans and have accused the agency for making false claims. But the Iranian Space Agency stressed that the sending of what they call as "animal astronauts" are crucial in the country's development of its space program. This can help decide the possibility and safety of their pre-planned human launch scheduled some time in 2018.
