An Iranian rocket called Pishgam (or Pioneer) and a monkey were sent into space on Monday, according to the Iranian government.
The rocket was said to have reached an altitude of 75 miles, and the rocket and monkey returned safely to Earth.
According to the BBC, Iran sent a rat, a turtle and some worms into space in 2010. In 2011, Iran was not able to successfully send a monkey into space.
Secretary of State spokeswoman Victoria Nuland explained why this is a concern for the U.S.
“We don’t have any way to confirm this one way or the other with regard to the primate, but our concern with Iran’s development of space-launch vehicle technologies are, obviously, well-known,” Nuland said in a statement.
“Any space-launch vehicle capable of placing an object in orbit is directly relevant to the development of long-range ballistic missiles, as well as [satellite launch vehicle] technologies, and they’re all virtually identical and interchangeable,” Nuland said.
She pointed out Iran is prohibited to launch ballistic missiles, as decided by the U.N. Security Council Resolution of 1929.
Pat Norris, a satellite technology expert, told the BBC this space mission was not a breakthrough compared to the rockets the program has already launched.
Norris said the significance of this launch was the survival of the monkey.
In 2010, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the country plans to send a man into space by 2019.
