The head of Iran's Aerospace Organization says the country has plans to send its first astronaut to space within the next decade.

Reza Taqipour, head of the organization, said Wednesday that the date for the first Iranian spaceman's trip to outer space would be set within the next six to twelve months.

Iran, according to Taqipour, seeks to become the first country in the region to acquire space technology by the year 2021 - which is equivalent to the year 1400 in Iranian Calendar.

The report comes after Iran on Sunday successfully test-launched its first homemade satellite carrier, Safir 1, capable of putting lightweight satellites into low earth orbit.

The launch of Safir 1 tested remote sensing, satellite telemetry, and geographic information system (GIS) technology as well as remote and ground station data processing.

Taqipour added that Iran plans to put its first satellite, nicknamed Omid (meaning 'Hope' in Persian), into orbit within the next twelve months.

MD/HGH/MMN