60th Anniversary: Kirk Follows Capt. Ham The Chimp Who Was First American Into Space

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first chimpanzee in space. Not a lot of people know that.

The chimp in question was called Ham -- not because he was partial to a certain sandwich, but rather an acronym for Holloman Aerospace Medical Center in New Mexico. However, to his handlers he was Chop Chop Chang.

Nasa officially called the chimp "No.65" and only recognised it as Ham after the successful completion of the mission. The reasoning was that the public would become upset if an animal with a name died in space, but would be less emotional about a number expiring.

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Last Edited by Captain KC Jones on 10/13/2021 02:48 PM