Iran prepares its first team of astronauts for space

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 19 / Trend S.Isayev, T. Jafarov/ First team of astronauts from Iran will be chosen by the end of this year, Head of Iran's Aerospace Research, Doctor Muhammad Ibrahimi said, IRNA reported. In Iran, year changes on 21st of March. Ibrahimi added that the astronaut team will be compiled from fighter pilots. "We are currently in negotiations with several countries, which can provide our future team with necessary training. Among these countries are China and Russia," Ibrahimi said. Head of Iran's Aerospace Research noted that after the team is ready, astronauts will be sent to those countries for specific education and training. Iran launched its first satellite, dubbed as Kavoshgar-1, in 2007. Last year, Iran announced it had put a rocket carrying a mouse, turtle and some worms into space. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced plans for the monkey flight in February, with the mammal dispatched inside a capsule with life-support for a 20-minute flight about 75 miles above the earth surface. Iranian president also noted, that country plans to put a man in space by 2017.