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Iran claims launch of turtles, rodent into space

By Barry Neild, CNN
A photo published by Iran's Press TV show Helmz-1, the rodent sent into space.
A photo published by Iran's Press TV show Helmz-1, the rodent sent into space.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NEW: White House calls launch "a provocative act."
  • NEW: British Foreign Office concerned about ballistic missile applications
  • Iran claims rocket launch as a successful advance in its space program
  • Fars news agency says creatures on board had returned to Earth
RELATED TOPICS

(CNN) -- Iran said Wednesday it had launched a rocket carrying a rodent, two turtles and some worms into orbit, claiming it as a successful advance in a space program that has raised international concerns.

The White House called the launch "a provocative act," but added that President Obama "believes that it's not too late for Iran to do the right thing."

Spokesman Bill Burton said the United States was still checking reports of the launch "to make sure that they are accurate."

The British Foreign Office said the reported launch "underlines our serious concern about Iranian intentions for this type of technology," noting it "has a number of possible applications in the Iranian ballistic missile program."

The official Islamic Republic News Agency said the "home-built" Kavoshgar-3, or Explorer-3 rocket was launched at a ceremony to commemorate this month's anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew Iran's monarchy.

Iran, which is trying to contain a political crisis after violent protests erupted following the disputed re-election of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is expected to mount a series of high-profile events to mark the anniversary.

State-run Press TV quoted Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi declaring the launch a success and describing Iran's space program as "peaceful."

"Iran will not tolerate any unpeaceful use [of space] by any country," he was quoted as saying.

Last year the U.S. State Department expressed "grave concern" over Iran's announcement it was planning a series of satellite launches.

"Developing a space launch vehicle that could ... put a satellite into orbit could possibly lead to development of a ballistic missile system," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said at the time. "So that's a grave concern to us."

The Pentagon called the plan "clearly a concern of ours."

"Although this appears to be [a] satellite, there are dual-use capabilities that could be applied to missiles, and that's a concern to us and everybody in region," Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell said at the time.

The United States is among nations expanding sanctions against Tehran amid concerns over Iran's test-firing of long-range missiles capable of reaching European and Israeli targets, and a program of uranium enrichment.

IRNA said the rocket launched Wednesday was "designed to send consecutive aerial images to ground and measure environmental information."

Press TV quoted Iranian space officials saying live video transmission and telemetry allowed the rat or mouse -- named Helmz-1 -- turtles and worms to be monitored during their space voyage.

The Fars news agency said later Wednesday that the animals had returned to Earth and were being studied by scientists.

In August 2008, a claim by Iran that it had successfully launched a vehicle capable of carrying a satellite into orbit were dismissed by the Pentagon, which said the rocket had been too unstable to leave the Earth's atmosphere.