Iran to start manned spaceflight

After a series of breakthroughs in space research and technology, Iran sets the wheels turning on plans to send its first astronaut into orbit.

Iran's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Reza Taqipour, said Wednesday that scientists are exploring ways to implement preliminary plans to launch a manned mission into space.

“We have a clear outline of the plans, but at the same time we are aware that implementing our plans depend on a broad national participation,” Taqipour told Mehrnews on Saturday.