45 Rarely Seen Historical Photos That Tell a Lesser-Known Story

#43: Ham, the First Ape Launched into Space

It might seem bizarre that a chimpanzee was sent to space, but on January 31, 1961, Ham became the first of his kind. NASA wanted to test his cognitive function in space and the safety of the capsule in which he was sent.

The mission proved successful in every aspect, and Ham returned to Earth unharmed and an iconic American hero. Ham performed all his assigned tasks and only returned with slight fatigue and dehydration. We have never heard of a more impressive monkey!