Iran takes initial step to send man to space: minister (2)

The Iranian minister further said Iran will soon inaugurate a space observation base.

On Jan. 16, ISA Director Hamid Fazeli said the plan to send living creatures into space was part of the project to send human beings into space, adding that the project would be carried out over the course of five to eight years.

In December 2012, Vahidi said Iran was to unveil new space achievements on Feb. 2, 2013, Iran's Space Technology Day.

In June 2012, the defense minister said Iran's new space center, named Imam Khomeini Space Center, would be inaugurated and the Iranian scientists and experts from the Aerospace Industry Organization of the Defense Ministry would send a new generation of the Islamic republic's satellites from the center into orbit.

As the first step, Vahidi said, the Tolou (Dawn) satellite would be sent into space from the space center.

Iran, a founding member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, launched its first domestically-made data-processing satellite, the Omid (Hope), into space in 2009.

Iran frequently says that it will push ahead with its space program in the coming years.

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