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 monkeys 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]