The first primate in space

In his time it was a true worldwide event. It happened 64 years ago, on January 31, 1961. The Chimpanzee Ham became the first primate that was on a trip to space. Thus, he gave hope to the US to carry astronauts out of the earth. The first primate in space is a remarkable milestone in the space race.

HAM belonged to the Holloman Aerospace Medicine Center (United States). It was there that he learned to perform some basic functions to pilot the ship. Thanks to his training, HAM managed to reach a height of 253 kilometers and remained for seven minutes in a state of ingrability.

The first primate in space was called Ham.
The first primate in space was called Ham.

Safe and sound

The trip was made within the Mercury project to simulate what the first human astronaut would experience. The take -off in a Redstone 2 rocket was carried out without incident. But a problem in the rocket’s acceleration regulator provided speed that would not be solved until liquid oxygen was exhausted.

In total, the flight lasted 16 minutes and 39 seconds and the capsule merited in the Atlantic Ocean. He did 679 kilometers away from the takeoff point. The chimpanzee was, according to NASA, the first “halo of hope” that in the near future men could travel to space. Ham was rescued safe and except, and a rapid review confirmed that he was in good condition.

He managed to return safe and except thanks to his training.
He managed to return safe and except thanks to his training.

Space race

And, before HAM, the American space agency had already experienced up to six times. They tried to complete the sending of apes to the outer space, however, none of them could survive the trip.

The first primate in space was part of an intense competition. Two months later, on April 12, the Soviet Union gave the great bell. It was with the first manned orbital flight that Yuri Gagarin starred. The United States could not send an astronaut outside the earth until May 9, with Alan Shepard, and it was only a suborbital flight. It would be John Glenn, already in May 1962, who would match Gagarin’s deed in orbital flight.

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