Iran on Tuesday test-fired the Kavoshgar 3
satellite carrier, sending its third explorer - with living organisms onboard -
into space. The Kavoshgar 3 (Explorer) rocket, carrying an experimental
capsule, transfers telemetric data, live pictures and flight and environmental
analysis data.
The Iranian Aerospace Organization (IAO) says live video transmission and the
mini-environmental lab will enable further studies on the biological capsule -
carrying a rat, two turtles and worms - as it leaves earth's atmosphere and
enters space.
The rat, Helmz 1, is being
prepared to be placed into the capsule for the space journey
In February 2008, Iran became the 11th country to
have acquired space-related technology by blasting Kavoshgar 1 into space.
The second Kavoshgar, which carried a space-lab and a restoration system, was
launched in November 2008. The Kavoshgar 3 rocket is an updated version of the
previous models.
Live transmission from the Kavoshgar 3 rocket as it leaves earth's
atmosphere. The biological capsule (bottom left) carried a rat, two
turtles and worms into space.
Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi
on Wednesday hailed the successful launch and insisted on the "peaceful" nature
of Iran's space program.
"Iran will not tolerate any un-peaceful use [of space] by any country," General
Vahid was quoted as saying by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
