In Tehran, Iran, the country has propelled a capsule containing animals into space, marking a significant step in its space program contested by Western nations and gearing up for eventual human missions.
State media unveiled footage of the Iranian-manufactured rocket successfully sending the 500kg (1,100 pounds) “all-indigenous” capsule 130km (80 miles) into orbit.
The Salman rocket, developed by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, carried the heaviest biological capsule in the Iranian space program’s history.
While the specific animals aboard were undisclosed, the Iranian Space Agency commissioned the capsule, which was created by the aerospace division of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology.
Hossein Dalirian, the space agency’s spokesperson, shared a video on X, offering a new perspective on the bio capsule’s launch.
Iran initiated its animal space program in the mid-2000s, achieving its first success in 2010. In 2013, the country reported sending two monkeys into space and safely bringing them back.
Dalirian stated that President Ebrahim Raisi’s administration has revitalized efforts toward Iran’s long-term goal of sending humans into space.
Critics argue that former President Hassan Rouhani’s centrist government nearly halted the space program to prioritize engagement with the West, an approach deemed unsuccessful.
With the 2015 nuclear deal in limbo after the 2018 U.S. withdrawal and imposing sanctions on Iran, Tehran has undertaken various high-profile space launches, including military ones.
In September, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the successful placement of a third imaging satellite into a 450km (280 miles) orbit. Several more satellite launches are anticipated in the coming months.
The U.S. and its allies consistently condemn Iran’s missile and space launches, particularly those involving long-range ballistic missiles with potential nuclear warhead capabilities.
Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, and in August 2022, Russia assisted in launching an imaging satellite.
This move, like South Korea’s space activities, has drawn concern from Western nations. Amidst these developments, a recent spat emerged between North and South Korea over satellite launches, further exemplifying the ongoing tensions in global space activities.
