Iran reported on Wednesday that it successfully sent a capsule into orbit carrying undisclosed animals, marking a step towards developments for future human missions. Iranian State TV showed footage of a rocket named Salman propelling the capsule 130 kilometers (80 miles) into space, according to Telecommunications Minister Isa Zarepour has said, as quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
The launch of the 500-kilogram (1,000 pound) capsule is in preparation for sending Iranian astronauts to space in the future, said Zarepour, although he did not provide details about the type of animals sent in the capsule.
Iran, which occasionally announces successful launches of satellites and other spacecraft, reported in September that it had sent a data-collecting satellite into space.
In 2013, Iran sent a monkey into space, which was successfully returned. However, the US and other Western countries have expressed concern that the technology could be used to develop long-range missiles.
Iran maintains that its satellite program is for scientific research and other civilian applications, even though the dual nature of the technology developed in the satellite program raises suspicions.
