Bonus Episode: A Brief History of Animals in Space
Step into a world where NASA’s most diverse hiring initiative sent everything from fruit flies to French cats beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Listen as we explore the remarkable story of Ham, the three-year-old chimpanzee who became corporate America’s first non-human remote worker, and discover why some job interviews should really include “willing to be shot into orbit” in the requirements.
Warning: May cause sudden realization that even monkeys made it to space before you did.
The Space-Faring Menagerie
On January 31, 1961, Ham the Astrochimp made history as the first primate to survive spaceflight in America’s Mercury program. Selected from dozens of candidates, Ham completed his mission with flying colors, performing tasks under 6.6 times the force of gravity during his 16-minute suborbital journey.
But Ham wasn’t alone in pioneering space exploration. The first animals in space were fruit flies, launched in 1947. The Soviet Union sent numerous dogs into orbit, starting with Laika in 1957. In 1963, France contributed Félicette, the first and only cat to survive spaceflight (because apparently even cats draw the line at a second volunteer for space travel).
The Numbers Behind the Cosmic Ark
Scientists estimate that more than two dozen different species have ventured beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including:
- Approximately 32 monkeys and apes
- Around 20 dogs
- Dozens of mice and rats
- Two pioneering Soviet tortoises who circled the Moon
- Thousands of smaller passengers including fish, newts, insects, and jellyfish
Note: While not all of these pioneering pets made it back, their sacrifices paved the way for human spaceflight.
Legacy of the Animal Astronauts
The contributions of these cosmic creatures went far beyond simple survival tests. They helped scientists understand the effects of:
- Microgravity on biological systems
- Radiation exposure
- The psychological impact of spaceflight
- Life support system requirements
- The challenges of eating and drinking in zero gravity
Safety Notice: No animals are currently being recruited for space missions, though our automated response system insists they should at least be considered for IT support roles.
Further Reading
- Visit our blog: “The Complete Guide to Animal Astronauts: Earth’s First Remote Workers”
- “Ham (chimpanzee)”
- “A Brief History of Animals in Space”