| Ham The Chimp |
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Ham, also known as '''Ham the Chimp''' and '''Ham the Astrochimp''' was the first Higher Primate launched into Outer Space . In December 1960 the 44-month old Chimpanzee was trained to do simple tasks in response to electric lights and sounds, with response being timed. On January 31 , 1961 , Ham was secured in a Project Mercury capsule labeled MR-2 and launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida into outer space. The capsule suffered a partial loss of pressure during the flight, but Ham's Space Suit prevented him from suffering any harm. During the flight Ham had to push a lever within five seconds of seeing a flashing blue light; as per pre-flight training, failure would result in an application of Negative Reinforcement in the form of an Electric Shock to the soles of his feet. Ham's performance in space was only a fraction of a second slower than on Earth, demonstrating that tasks could be performed in space. Ham's capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean and was recovered by a rescue ship later that day. After the flight Ham lived for 17 years in the National Zoo in Washington D.C. , then at the North Carolina Zoo before dying at the age of 27 on January 19 , 1983 . Ham appeared repeatedly on television, and even on film with Evel Knievel . Ham's backup, Minnie was the only female chimp trained for the Mercury program. After her role in the Mercury program ended, Minnie became part of an Air Force chimp-breeding program, producing nine offspring and helping raise the offspring of several other members of the chimp colony. She was the last surviving astro-chimp. She died at age 41 on March 14 , 1998 . Minnie is buried next to Ham at the International Space Hall Of Fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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