Posted on 09/16/2013 2:35:53 PM PDT by Red Badger
The IRNA, Iran's official news agency, revealed today its plans to venture forth into space with perhaps the country's most iconic animal on board: the Persian cat. The flat-faced favorite of fanciers would be the first Iranian visitor to space after the possibly-fake space monkey that Iran insists returned safely from near space a few months back.
Iran's efforts to become a power in space--and certainly Iran has made more strides in this area than any of its neighbors, besides Israel--are concerning to many in the western world, who see Iran's presence in space as potentially dangerous. For its part, Iran says its space program is intended for innocuous reasons like improving communication and monitoring earthquakes. Some experts fear this may be only part of the story, that Iran is also seeking militarization technology in space.
Anyway, back to cats. So the Persian is a very old cat breed, dating back to what is now Iran and Turkey in the early 17th century. It's a friendly and docile breed, making it an ideal choice for apartment dwellers, and is one of the most popular city cats in the world. Its peculiar squashed face is accompanied by some physical problems; it often has trouble breathing, for example.
Iran says it plans to hurl a Persian into space by the end of the Iranian year, which wraps up on March 21st (the Iranian calendar begins on the vernal equinox). We'll keep you updated on this and all other spacecat news.
Ground control to Major Snowball.
LOL
Is Viking kitty on this mission
No wonder we haven’t hear from him YET
WHO, WHO I SAY, ARE THESE 'SPACERS' WHO DENY THE RESULTS OF IRAN'S SPACE PROGRAM?!!
When the cat food and cat litter and water bowl scatters all over the capsule in zero G, that will not be a happy cat.
If anyone referred to her as Iranian, she would have scratched their eyes out.
And all this time I was sure it was the Persian Skunk Ayatollah!
That must be your loyal retainer.
Poor Kitty.
Ew. Litter box in a spaceship.
What a stupid thing to do.
Primitivism.
10 Iranian Missile Engineers Visited N. Korea:Sankei reports(check on NK’s Chinese equipments)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1658850/posts
(07/01/06)
S. Korea, U.S. verifying reports on test of new N.K. missile in Iran: source
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1834307/posts
(4,000 kilometer range—will reach the Vatican—May 16th, 2007)
US confirms Iran launch of first home-built satellite
afp ^ | 2-03-09 | staff
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2177582/posts
Iran Satellite Launch Heightens Missile Development Concerns
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2009
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=52939
Iran hails successful launch of satellite rocket
Posted on Wed 03 Feb 2010 02:51:50 AM MST
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2443266/posts
Iran Placing Medium-Range Missiles in Venezuela; Can Reach the U.S. (12/09/10)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2640111/posts
‘Die Welt’: Iran building rocket bases in Venezuela (17 May 2011)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2721122/posts
Iran fires satellite carrier into space
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2443258/posts
Perhaps they learned from the monkey they sent into space and will this time make the effort to find two identical cats (one for launching and one for recovering).
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