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First chimpanzee in space
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First chimpanzee in space
First chimpanzee in space. Ham, the first chimpanzee in space, in his flight suit. On January 31, 1961, a Mercury-Redstone rocket carrying Ham was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. The rocket reached a peak of 254 kilometres above the Earth. During the flight, Ham had to pull a lever in response to a flashing light. After a 16.5 minute flight, the Mercury capsule landed and Ham was recovered alive. NASA launched several animals in test flights before launching the first American astronaut, Alan Shepard, on 5th May 1961. Image taken 31st January 1961
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6333157
© NASA/VRS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
1900s 1961 31st Chimp Chimpanzee Nasa Pan Troglodytes Primate Sepia Space Flight Test Flight Us A Walking Laboratory Marshall Space Flight Center Mercury Project Mono Chrome
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First Chimpanzee in Space - A Historic Milestone in Space Exploration
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. This print captures a momentous event in the history of space exploration - the first chimpanzee to venture into outer space. Meet Ham, the courageous primate who donned his flight suit and embarked on an extraordinary journey on January 31,1961. As part of NASA's Mercury-Redstone rocket mission, Ham was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, reaching an astounding altitude of 254 kilometers above Earth's surface. This daring flight aimed to test the effects of space travel on living organisms before humans took their first steps beyond our planet. During this groundbreaking mission, Ham demonstrated incredible intelligence by pulling a lever in response to a flashing light. His successful completion of this task proved that animals could perform critical actions under extreme conditions. After a heart-pounding 16.5-minute flight, the Mercury capsule safely landed and Ham was recovered alive – marking a significant milestone for both animal and human space exploration endeavors. This remarkable image showcases Ham walking confidently in his white laboratory outfit at Marshall Space Flight Center. The sepia-toned photograph evokes nostalgia for this pivotal moment during the early days of space discovery when every step forward brought us closer to unlocking the mysteries beyond our world. Let us remember and honor brave pioneers like Ham who paved the way for future astronauts as we continue pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers in our quest for knowledge about our universe.
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