ham the astrochimp
Named after the Holloman Aerospace Medical Center, HAM the Astrochimp was the first great ape in space. HAM was trained at Holloman Air Force Base outside Alamogordo before his space flight out of Cape Canaveral. His launch was on January 31, 1961, and he achieved a suborbital height before splashing down back in the Atlantic safe and sound. He lived until 26 (he flew at the age of three).
HAM's remains were interred at the The Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, right below the entry sign to the site. People leave coins and other items (including bananas!) in respect of HAM.
Comments
Post a Comment