Chimpanzee "ham" in space suit is fitted into the biopack couch of the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule #5 prior to its test flight, which was conducted on January 31, 1961 (photo credit: NASA/Wikimedia Commons)
It appears Iran has decided to play catch-up with the US and the USSR Russia in the space race.
Reportedly, the Islamic Republic is looking to send a monkey into space — and return it alive. Iran tried unsuccessfully to launch a monkey into the heavens and bring it back to earth in 2011.
This latest attempt allegedly has a 10-day window for launch, beginning January 31.
An ambitious project (illustration: Arie Katz/The Times of Israel)
Iran Space Agency head Hamid Fazeli told the semi-official Iranian news agencyMehr that monkeys set for the trial are currently in quarantine.
They will apparently be used to test the Pishgam capsule — ultimately meant to carry a human being — which has completed testing phases.
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