A capsule with a monkey aboard aboriginal bio-capsule code-named Pishgam (Pioneer) I was sent by Iran for the first time in January this year. A recent report has uncovered that the country has been planning to send a second monkey now into space.

The first rocket had proved successful in safely returning to Earth.

But, this time, the monkey would be sent aboard Pishgam (Pioneer) II, another home-made rocket. The mission is to take place within a period of 45 days.

It has been told that the second carrier has less acceleration with the promise of more accuracy.

A top Iranian official told that monkeys were being sent as part of the project aimed at sending humans into space. However, they are to be sent in the course of maximum eight years.

While the first spaceship was solid-fuelled, the second one would be using liquid propellant, the report said.

Hamid Fazeli, director of Iran Space Agency (ISA), said the group was thinking of introducing the Tadbir (Prudence) research satellite by the time the Iranian calendar year ends. Also, Sharif and Nahid were being planned to be launched within the same duration i. e. by March 20, 2014.