Peter Frankopan
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I blog from time to time about things that catch my eye and particularly about links between the past and present.

Peter's Blog

Iranians in Space

2/7/2013

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I'm working on Persia and Iran at the moment, the engine room of global trade, religion and science. It's where ideas and goods have been exchanged for millennia and today is no exception.

I am fascinated and amused when societies over-promote people, and this guy seems a perfect case study (unless the mullahs know something I don't - which is quite possible).

This week, though, I am particularly tickled because the President of Iran - who is quite powerful (has quite a good arsenal of weapons; never wears a tie; not good with kids) - has said he would not only like to be the first Iranian in space, but he would be prepared to be 'sacrificed by scientists' if it made his dream came true.

Not sure about you, but my science teachers never gave me the option of being ritually sacrificed. But if they had, I'd have been obsessed about whether on re-entry, I would have burnt with a squeaky pop; would have turned lime-water milky; or would have re-lit a glowing splint.

Maybe we'll find out if President Ahmedinejad literally goes ballistic...
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