Iran plans to send humans into space in 10 years

TEHRAN, Oct. 6 (MNA) – The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has announced it plans to send humans into space within 10 years.

“According to the president’s order and (by) carrying out preliminary studies, sending astronauts into space will be done in a ten-year period (plan),” Mohammad Mardani of the ISA told reporters on Tuesday.

The preliminary studies have been carried out by domestic universities and the results were handed to the ISA, he said, adding the agency is working on the design and implementing the first phase of the project.

Mardani said a satellite will be launched jointly by 9 countries of Asia-Pacific region, adding Iran is also manufacturing a joint satellite in cooperation with the Islamic countries.

On Zohre satellite, he said this is going to be a national project, which will not include more than one satellite and will be launched into space within the next 4 years.

Iran also plans to launch the Rasad 1 satellite by the end of the current Iranian year (which begins on March 21), he noted.

Rasad 1 is a remote sensing satellite, which can also carry out research projects, he explained.