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Iran 'sends monkey to space for second time' | Iran 'sends monkey to space for second time' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Iran says it has successfully sent a monkey into space for the second time this year as part of a programme aimed at manned space flight. | Iran says it has successfully sent a monkey into space for the second time this year as part of a programme aimed at manned space flight. |
President Hassan Rouhani said the monkey - named Fargam, or Auspicious - returned from space in perfect health. | President Hassan Rouhani said the monkey - named Fargam, or Auspicious - returned from space in perfect health. |
However, the success of the first monkey flight was disputed when a different animal was shown in images released after the landing. | However, the success of the first monkey flight was disputed when a different animal was shown in images released after the landing. |
Iran's space programme has raised concern among Western countries. | Iran's space programme has raised concern among Western countries. |
Some fear the technology could be used in ballistic missiles. | Some fear the technology could be used in ballistic missiles. |
Iran is already under international scrutiny over the scope of its nuclear programme, which opponents say aims to develop nuclear weaponry. | Iran is already under international scrutiny over the scope of its nuclear programme, which opponents say aims to develop nuclear weaponry. |
Wrong monkey | Wrong monkey |
President Rouhani congratulated the scientists involved in the space mission, according to a message posted on the English-language version of his website. | |
On the Persian-language version, he said it was carried by a liquid fuel rocket - Iran's first use of the technology. | On the Persian-language version, he said it was carried by a liquid fuel rocket - Iran's first use of the technology. |
There were few other details, including when the flight took place. | There were few other details, including when the flight took place. |
In January, Iran said it had sent a monkey to an altitude of about 120km (75 miles) in a Pishgam rocket for a sub-orbital flight before returning intact to Earth. | In January, Iran said it had sent a monkey to an altitude of about 120km (75 miles) in a Pishgam rocket for a sub-orbital flight before returning intact to Earth. |
But the release of images showing two clearly different monkeys prompted international observers to wonder whether the animal had died in space. | But the release of images showing two clearly different monkeys prompted international observers to wonder whether the animal had died in space. |
Iran insisted that was not the case, saying archive images of another monkey tested for its suitability for the mission had been wrongly released. | Iran insisted that was not the case, saying archive images of another monkey tested for its suitability for the mission had been wrongly released. |
In 2010, Iran successfully sent a rat, turtle and worms into space. But an attempt to send a monkey up in a rocket failed in 2011. | In 2010, Iran successfully sent a rat, turtle and worms into space. But an attempt to send a monkey up in a rocket failed in 2011. |
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