Ahmadinejad wants to be Iran's first astronaut
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday that he's ready to take the risk of being the first Iranian astronaut sent into space as part of Iran's goal of a manned space flight.
"I'm ready to be the first Iranian to sacrifice myself for our country's scientists," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying in an address to space scientists in Tehran.
Space tourist Anousheh Ansari was the first Iranian to make a journey into space aboard a Soyuz TMA-9 capsule from Baikonur, Kazakhastan, in September 2006. The 40-year-old telecommunications entrepreneur paid a reported $20 million for a space station visit. Her journey became an inspiration to women in male-dominated Iran.
Iran sent a monkey into space last Monday, describing the launch a successful step toward Tehran's plan to send an astronaut into space within the next five to six years. The monkey named "Pishgam," which means pioneer in Farsi, reportedly traveled 120 kilometers (72 miles) and safely returned to Earth.
In 2010, Iran said it launched an Explorer rocket into space carrying a mouse, a turtle and worms.
Iran's space officials say Iran will launch a bigger rocket carrying a larger animal to obtain greater safety assurances before sending a man into space.
Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Iran will soon send a satellite into space from its Imam Khomeini space center, which is still under construction.
The news agency didn't elaborate and did not disclose the location of the space center, but Iran already has a major satellite launch complex near Semnan, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Tehran. A satellite monitoring facility is located outside Mahdasht, about 70 kilometers (40 miles) west of the Iranian capital.
Iran says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation, improve telecommunications and expand military surveillance in the region.
"I'm ready to be the first Iranian to sacrifice myself for our country's scientists," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying in an address to space scientists in Tehran.
Space tourist Anousheh Ansari was the first Iranian to make a journey into space aboard a Soyuz TMA-9 capsule from Baikonur, Kazakhastan, in September 2006. The 40-year-old telecommunications entrepreneur paid a reported $20 million for a space station visit. Her journey became an inspiration to women in male-dominated Iran.
Iran sent a monkey into space last Monday, describing the launch a successful step toward Tehran's plan to send an astronaut into space within the next five to six years. The monkey named "Pishgam," which means pioneer in Farsi, reportedly traveled 120 kilometers (72 miles) and safely returned to Earth.
In 2010, Iran said it launched an Explorer rocket into space carrying a mouse, a turtle and worms.
Iran's space officials say Iran will launch a bigger rocket carrying a larger animal to obtain greater safety assurances before sending a man into space.
Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said Iran will soon send a satellite into space from its Imam Khomeini space center, which is still under construction.
The news agency didn't elaborate and did not disclose the location of the space center, but Iran already has a major satellite launch complex near Semnan, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Tehran. A satellite monitoring facility is located outside Mahdasht, about 70 kilometers (40 miles) west of the Iranian capital.
Iran says it wants to put its own satellites into orbit to monitor natural disasters in the earthquake-prone nation, improve telecommunications and expand military surveillance in the region.
Further proof that aliens have been living among us all along.
Let him then pray for a crash and burn.
All right....time to get him out of the surface of the earth and don't return !
Knock yourself out buddy. Let us know if your find those seven virgins.
"Ahmadinejad wants to be Iran's first astronaut"
Thanks!
I needed a good belly laugh!
@OrcasThunder For some reason the movie "The Reluctant Astronaut" comes to mind.
Can we use a giant slingshot?
Send him himself and call it LOST IN SPACE!! He's so evil!! Get rid of the man who tempts G-d and make his go away!!1 You can have what you say mister evil!
I've seen this cartoon! Wile E straps himself to an Acme rocket then boom! It doesn't end well for the coyote.Â
Are we talking about as a passenger,,,,,,, or his "remains"?
 @EASTSIDE 1 Works either way...
What are we waiting for? Should have been sent yesterday.
Â
They should send him up on the same rocket as http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_GqGEPRWOfVA/RikzbwylctI/AAAAAAAAAA8/l6M0_m02a2c/s400/yeehaw.jpg
This guy is already a real space cadet so why not ? Just have him take a ride on the next North Korean rocket and problem solved. Classic idiotic dictator.
He should get the North Korean's to send him up on their next launch.
That is the best decision he has ever made. Now if the rocket would have some sort of failure while he is in transit...
 @robmo I am sure NASA has some O-rings they could sell him, cheap!
@komotriedtosilenceme @robmo classy comment. any guesses why 'komotriedtosilenceme'?
 @what? Thank you for the accolades and kind comment.
Wouldn't that count as sending him "back" to space?
He has my vote to be Iran's first AstroNUT!
Let him be the first human guinea pig to test how long someone can last in space without breathing apparatus.
One way ticket pal!!
I'm all for it. His head is already up there, so why not reunite it with the rest of his body.
oh please... pick him... pick him!
I'm all for it. I'll even light the fuze.
I hope that nothing does not go wrong.
This guy is a legend in his own mind.
Send him and save the monkeys!
This would present a wonderful opportunity to test the new intercontinental ballistic missile interceptors that are being developed.
Give him a one way ticket.
Perhaps the US can provide Iran with a little "secret" rocket technology.
Yes...please send this clown into orbit!
 Will that make two monkeys total?