Iran is planning to send another research satellite into space by late March, according to Aerospace Research Institute.

According to Mohammad Ebrahimi, an official at the institute, the Kavoshgar III (Explorer 3) will be launched into space to carry out research and study spatial subsystems, ISNA reported on Tuesday.

In November 2008, Iran sent into orbit the Kavoshgar II, which featured carrier and space-lab systems. It parachuted back to Earth after successfully completing its mission.

Earlier in the same year, the Kavoshgar I rocket was launched to gather meteorological data.

Meanwhile, the director of Iran's Aerospace Research Institute, Mohsen Bahrami, said that Iran was also planning to send animals into space within the next two years.

Bahrami said the animals would be sent into space aboard Kavoshgars, which would act as a test for the country's plan to launch a manned space mission.

Not only are Iran's breakthroughs in space technology and achievements limited to launching research satellites, but also scientists are close to implement preliminary plans to launch a manned mission into space as Iran sets the wheels turning on plans to send its first astronaut into orbit.