--- title: "Iran Tries to Pass Off $20 Walmart Costume as Space Suit" description: "The Iran Minister of Information and Communications Technology uploaded an image to Twitter last week of a space suit. It was likely a children's costume." date: "2020-02-11" modified: "2020-02-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/iran-pass-off-walmart-costume-space-suit" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "iran" - "space suit" - "the digest" --- # Iran Tries to Pass Off $20 Walmart Costume as Space Suit ![The Iran Minister of Information and Communications Technology uploaded an image to Twitter last week of a space suit. It was likely a children's costume.]() *\Image: Azari Jahromi via Twitter/Amazon/Victor Tangermann\* ## Costume Party Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi uploaded an [image]() to Twitter last week with the caption "astronaut costume #bright\_future." But users were [quick to point out]() that the alleged space suit was [actually a $20 Halloween costume](), sold by online retailers including [Amazon]() and [Walmart](). https://twitter.com/azarijahromi/status/1224622552036802560 ## Work in Progress The smoking gun is what appears to be two outlines — one rectangular and one round, on the chest area of the suit — that perfectly align with two fake NASA patches found on the children's costume, [*The Drive* points out](). After being founded in 2004, Iran's space agency has launched a number of satellites into orbit over the last decade — but has yet to send any astronauts into space. ## Iranian Propaganda The preposterous tweet feels reminiscent of previous attempts by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Crops, a paramilitary militia, to pass off a ["Qaher 313" stealth fighter" mockup]() as the real thing — there's still no evidence it can actually fly, despite unconvincing video footage of a test flight involving a small-scale drone, [*The National Interest* reported]() in October. The militia even claimed to have developed, or helped develop, the US Space Shuttle in a recently erected billboard, according to *The Drive*. It's a tough era for Iran's space efforts. An Iranian satellite Zafar 1 failed to reach a high enough speed on Sunday to enter orbit after liftoff, as [*Space.com* reports](). **READ MORE:** [Iranian Minister Tried To Pass Off A $20 Halloween Costume As A Real Spacesuit]() \[*The Drive*\] **More on Iran:** *[Two More US Sites Hacked With Pro-Iran Propaganda]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()