The goal of Iran’s Aerospace Program is to send a person to space by 2018, but for now, the country hopes to send a Persian cat into orbit by the end of its current year, which ends on 21 March 2014.
In 2010 Iran sent some worms, a turtle and a mouse into space, while a monkey has been sent into orbit this year—although this has been disputed as the pictures of the monkey shown before and after the launch looked different.
Other candidates for this launch include a mouse and a rabbit, but Iran may choose the Persian cat as the breed is named after the country’s former name—Persia.
Should everything go according to plan, this flat-faced feline will be placed in a liquid-fueled rocket which will be launched 72-miles upwards.
With this technology, the country hopes to monitor earthquake-prone sites, improve telecommunications, as well as conduct military surveillance.
[via Daily Mail]