Do you know Ham The Chimpanzee? Ham is the first great ape in space to ensure the survivability of spaceflight for future space research. He was only four at the time he did his mission.
The United States Air Force bought Ham from the Miami Rare Bird Farm In Florida in 1959 and he would train for space flight for Space Mercury Project. He was taken to Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo in New Mexico. During that time, he was not yet “Ham.” His trainers referred him as #65 or Chop Chop Chang.
Besides Ham, there were other thirty-nine chimpanzees went through a series of tests. According to All That’s Interesting, Ham was chosen to train for space flight for his mental acuity. His training includes responding to electric lights and sounds. He learned to push a lever within five seconds if he saw a blue-flashing light. If he succeeded in this test, he would get a banana pallet. However, if he failed, a light electric would shock the soles of his feet.
The first chimpanzee in space
In 1961, Ham got the title of the first chimpanzee in space. He was “Ham” which stands for “Holloman Aero Medical” only after his mission success. Although he succeeded, he went through an intense experience as his capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, 130 miles from its target. He had a bruised nose from the fall and the scientists found him later that same day. After three months, America sent its first astronaut to space — Alan Shepard.
Two years after Ham made his journey to space, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. became his home for seventeen years. After that, he joined other chimpanzees at North Carolina Zoo. Ham died at the age of 26.
Besides Ham, other animals that have gone to space were Miss Baker The Squirrel Monkey, Félicette The Stray Cat, Laika The Dog, and more.
Source: Save The Chimps, All That’s Interesting, Wikipedia