From science fiction thrillers to real groundbreaking discoveries for the betterment of mankind, it’s hard not to be fascinated by the phenomena of space exploration.  The answers to our very universe could be lurking amongst the cosmic ocean we call home.  Rightfully so, astronauts have always held an awesome and epic place in history.  One space explorer that doesn’t quite get his due is Ham, a chimpanzee who became the first hominid to successfully launch into space.

Beginnings

Ham was born in Cameroon in the year 1957.  At the age of two, he was relocated to Miami, where he began training with Joseph V. Brady.  Brady is widely recognized as the founder of behavioral pharmacology.

“A branch of pharmacology concerned with the physiological and behavioral mechanisms by which drugs operate, encompassing not only the effects of drugs on behavior but also how behavioral factors contribute to the actions of drugs and the ways in which they are used.”

-The American Psychological Association 

Project Mercury 

From 1958-1963, the first American spaceflight program had one goal in mind, to send a man to the moon before the Soviet Union.  Ham himself actually got his name from the laboratories that helped fuel the project, the Holloman Aerospace Medical center in New Mexico.  His name was also an homage to Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton “Ham” Blackshear, commander of the Holloman Aeromedical Laboratory.  They successfully completed 20 crew-less flights (besides animals) and laid the essential groundwork for the future Apollo missions.

Training

Clearly, a lot of preparation and training goes into successful rocket science.  When a flashing blue light would appear, Ham was taught to pull the proper lever within a span of 5 seconds.  Failure to do so would result in a slight shock to the ape’s feet.  A correct response would release a delicious banana pellet for Ham to enjoy.  He trained for 3 years before his launch in 1961.

The Mission

A total of 6 chimps were trained for the mission.  Ultimately, only two were selected, Ham and a female named Minnie, who would serve as his backup.  Ham’s intelligence and unwavering positive energy made him the perfect candidate for the job.  

When the time came, Ham’s elite training more than came in handy.  He was able to push the correct levers only a touch slower than he was able to on Earth.  This proved that tasks could consciously be performed from space.  Ham had to push about 50 levers during his trip and was more than up to the challenge.   At one point during the journey, the capsule was ruptured and the pressure was partially released.  Luckily, Ham’s space suit kept him safe and responsive. 

When Ham got back to mother Earth, his capsule landed in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, where he was eventually rescued hours later.  Amazingly, the worst of his injuries was a bruised nose.

After his legendary odyssey, Ham was relocated to the National Zoo in Washington D.C. where he lived for 17 years.  He was then transferred to a preserve in North Carolina, where he spent his final two years surrounded by fellow chimpanzees.  To honor his additions to the scientific community, his body was buried in the International Space Hall of Fame in New Mexico.