Iran Plans to Send first Astronaut to Space in 10 Years

Iran RocketIran plans to send a manned rocket into space in the next 10 years, Fars News agency reported. Iran announced last Sunday that it successfully launched a home-made satellite-carrier rocket named Safir (messenger) and placed a dummy satellite into orbit. But U.S. officials said the vehicle which Iran said had delivered a dummy satellite into space failed shortly after lift off. Iran planned to put a “series of satellites” into space by 2010 to aid natural disaster management programs and improve telecommunications, said Iranian Space Organization chief Reza Taghipour. Iran and some other Islamic countries has been constructing an Islamic satellite called “Besharat” (Good News). Its a noticeable achievement for the country despite long-time sanctions imposed by the West.