Iran sending another monkey to space, also considering putting Persian cats into orbit

IRAN is reportedly planning to send another monkey into space within a month.

Scientists surround a monkey Iran says it successfully launched into space. Picture; AP

IRAN is reportedly planning to send another monkey into space within a month.

A report in the conservative daily Jomhuri Eslami quotes the deputy head of Iran's space agency, Hamid Fazeli, as saying the planned launch is part of the country's plans to send a human to space in 2018.

Earlier this year, Iran claimed it launched a monkey out of the Earth's atmosphere and successfully had it return.

Mr Fazeli was quoted in Sunday's article as saying animals with a similar weight as monkeys are under consideration as future space test subjects.

In September, Iran suggested it may start launching Persian cats into space.