By Save the Chimps

Sixty-four years ago today, three-year-old Ham was forced to become the first chimpanzee in space. Save the Chimps honors Ham and his unwilling sacrifice. It was the plight of the Air Force chimps that inspired our late founder Dr. Carole Noon to establish Save the Chimps.

Ham’s Flight Facts:

• Lasted approximately 16 ½ minutes
• Travelled at a speed of approximately 5,800 mph
• Reached 157 miles above the earth
• Experienced about 6 ½ minutes of weightlessness

Incredibly, despite the intense speed, g-forces, and weightlessness, Ham performed his tasks correctly. After the flight, Ham’s capsule splashed down 130 miles from its target, and began taking on water. It took several hours for a recovery ship to reach Ham, but miraculously he was alive and relatively calm considering his ordeal.

When he was finally released from the “couch” however, his face bore an enormous grin that was featured in media worldwide. Although interpreted as a happy smile by many people, Ham’s expression was one of extreme fear and anxiety. That fear was demonstrated again sometime later through an act of defiance. Photographers wanted another shot of Ham in his “couch.”

Ham refused to go back into it, and multiple adult men were unable to force him to do so. Although Ham had no children, Save the Chimps is proud to provide a peaceful retirement for other survivors and descendants of the space chimp program.

Source: Save the Chimps