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N E W S
January 31, 2001 - 40th Anniversary of a Chimpanzee's First Flight into SpaceOn January 31, 1961, NASA launched the first chimpanzee into space as a test flight to see if future human flights were possible. NASA chose chimpanzees, like Ham, because chimpanzees are so close to humans in mental and physical abilities. After months of rigorous training, Ham was placed in the Mercury capsule in an enclosed capsule called a "couch" (similar to a small coffin) which was then placed into the Mercury vehicle. Ham waited on the launch pad for six hours until 11: 55 a.m., the Redstone Rocket launched into space. The capsule was supposed to travel 115 miles up at a 290 mile downrange and a top speed of 4,200 mph. Instead, due to several malfunctions, the capsule actually traveled 156.5 miles up with a downrange of 414 and the actual speed was 5,800 mph. Ham was expected to sustain a maximum of 11G's, instead he sustained 18G's. Pictured above at right is Ham upon his return from his flight. Ham was sent to the National Zoo in Washington, DC shortly after his flight where he would have lived alone for the most of his life. However, Ham did spend the last years of his life at the North Carolina Zoo in a family group, where he died at an old age. A tombstone can be found outside the Astronaut Hall of Fame in New Mexico that was dedicated in 1983. NASA astronauts have said that the chimpanzees used in Space Research endured more than any humans. Yet, the Air Force has treated these chimpanzees as if they were merely testing equipment. We have a chance to save the other chimpanzees that endure such hardship from the Space Program and from years of biomedical testing. With your help, we can give these chimpanzees a chance to retire in peace and freedom. It is the least we can do. So in honor of Ham's first flight, please consider making a donation today. Your support will help save those chimps that were left behind. | |||||||||||||||
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