Wed, Feb 06, 2013
But Seems To Have Forgotten An Iranian-Born Woman Flew To The ISS In 2006
In a speech to scientists in Tehran recently, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he stands ready to be the country's first astronaut, seemingly forgetting that an Iranian-born woman has already flown in space.
"I'm ready to be the first Iranian to sacrifice myself for our country's scientists," he said in the speech. But back in 2006, Iranian-born telecommunications entrepreneur Anousheh Ansari made a journey to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz TMA-9 spacecraft ... a trip for which she paid some $20 million.
Ahmadinejad's statement, reported in the Irish newspaper The Independent, came after the country reportedly sent a monkey into space last week, though there are some questions as to whether the animal actually survived the trip. The Associated Press reports that the U.S. State Department said that the monkey that appeared in photographs as it was being taken out of the spacecraft appeared to be different than the monkey that was seen in photographs being placed aboard. "The Iranians said they sent a monkey, but the monkey that they showed later seemed to have different facial features," State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. "He was missing a little wart."
Iran's Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the country plans to launch satellites "soon" from the Imam Khomeini space center currently under construction. It also has a satellite launch complex east of Tehran.
(Pictured: Anousheh Ansari following her ISS visit)
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]