ISA chief reveals plans to create space parks in four Iranian cities

Iran plans to build four space parks in some the country’s desert areas including those in Kashan, Damghan, Qeshm and Kerman cities, said the president of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA). Morteza Barari added the projects are aimed at expanding the country’s space exploration activities as well as attracting space tourists, Mehr News Agency reported.

He said the parks will be created in districts such as Damghan Martial hills (central Iran), Qeshm’s Stars Valley (south Iran — Persian Gulf) and Kerman’s Gandom Beryan — hottest place on Earth — in Lut Desert (central Iran), adding these areas have been inscribed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as the most important places on Earth which are similar in shape to Mars.

Barari stressed that the country’s capacities in this field are required to be used to attract space tourists.

ISA chief added to this end, the creation of an astronomy technology development park in the central Iranian city of Kashan has also been placed on ISA’S agenda.

He said estimations show that, each year, Kashan attracts 4.5 million tourists during March 21-September 22 and its economy is highly buoyant in these days.

By attracting space tourists, Barari added, the economy of the city will further improve as it has starry nights.

There are more than 150 Iranian astronomers in the US and Europe, he said, adding ISA seeks to organize international workshops on astronomy to invite these scientists for cooperation.