Ahmadinejad helped open the Iranian space center in February 2008. (Fars News)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters he wants to be the first human sent to space by the Iranian regime.
The Jerusalem Post reported:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday he was ready to be the first human sent into orbit by Iran’s fledgling space program, Iranian media reported.
Iran declared last week that it had successfully launched a monkey into space and retrieved it alive, which officials hailed as a major step towards their goal of sending humans into space.
The launch added to Western concerns about Iran’s space program because the same rocket technology could potentially be used to deliver a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile.
“I am ready to be the first human to be sent to space by Iranian scientists,” Ahmadinejad said on Monday, on the sidelines of an exhibition of space achievements in Tehran, according to the Mehr news agency.
“Sending living things into space is the result of Iranian efforts and the dedication of thousands of Iranian scientists.”
Iran wants to launch a man into space in 5-8 years.
In this photo, the monkey that was sent into space by Iran on January 27 and was returned safely can be seen after returning to the Earth. (File photo)
