The country is developing rockets for uses as warhead delivery systems

Dec 16, 2013 13:55 GMT  ·  By

Authorities in Iran announced a new successful rocket launch on Saturday, December 14, claiming that it launched its second monkey into space, and insisting that the effort is part of its ambitious goals of put a man in space soon. The western world fears the country is testing long-range rockets.

According to the announcement, quoted by RIA Novosti, the Pajohesh rocket, whose name means research in Farsi, was launched to suborbital altitudes of 120 kilometers (72 miles). The monkey, named Fargam (Auspicious), was apparently returned safely to Earth without having suffered injuries.

The state-run IRNA news agency announced that the mission lasted 15 minutes. Fargam, a 3-kilogram (6.6-pound) rhesus macaque, was shown tugged safely inside his straps upon return to Earth. However, verifying that the launch actually occurred and that the mission was a success is nearly impossible.

Unlike the previous monkeyed mission, the new one used a rocket that burned liquid fuel rather than solid fuel. Officials in charge of Iran's space program were reported as saying that liquid fuel produces lower speeds, which are more likely to be endured easily by men and monkeys alike, Space Fellowship reports.