Iranian Guidance Systems Compromised?

A report in Space Travel, Exploration and Tourism that “Iran failed with space monkey launch” has led to speculation that IRI’s guidance systems have been compromised.

“The Kavoshgar-5 rocket carrying a capsule with a live animal (a monkey) was launched during Shahrivar,” an Iranian calendar month spanning August 23 to September 22, Deputy Science Minister Mohammad Mehdinejad-Nouri was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

“However, the launch was not publicised as all of its anticipated objectives were not accomplished,” Mehdinejad-Nouri told reporters.

He said the launch of a live animal into space was “strategic, and a priority,” and expressed hope that future launches would attain more of the objectives set.

On October 3, Iran indefinitely postponed plans to send a live monkey into space, without giving any reasons.

Last year, according to multiple reports, a computer virus of unknown provenance named Stuxnet wreaked havoc with Iranian nuclear facilities. Whatever the case, bad luck for the monkey.