In another step toward manned space flight for Iran, Tehran said it had successfully sent a monkey into space, The Associated Press reported. A rocket called "Pishgam," or "Pioneer" in Farsi, reached a height of 72 miles and returned to earth safely, monkey in-tow, state TV said. Iran last year announced they would build a new space center, and has sent a mouse, turtle and worms into space in the past, according to the AP. Though the U.S. worries that technology developed from the space program could be used to create long-range missiles that could be fitted with nuclear warheads, Iran has denied that it seeks atomic weapons. Iran has successfully launched satellites into space dating back to 2005, in a joint project with Russia.
