Half A Century Of Space Monkeys

Fifty years ago this last May, the world saw the beginning of the Grand Tradition of Space Monkeys. Well, more correctly, this is when the world saw the beginning of the Grand Tradition of Space Monkeys Who Came Home Safely.  On May 28, 1959, Able and Miss Baker, Space Monkeys, were rocketed into space and returned rather unharmed from a 15 minute flight. They were the first primates to survive spaceflight, and what a pair of heroes they were! I imagine they got a ticker tape parade.

Ten years earlier, a monkey named Albert II had a less fortunate rocket ride. He was the first living Space Monkey, but he didn’t survive the return trip. I suppose Albert’s story is what makes Cargo so nervous every time he clocks in for work.

NationalGeographic.com published a nifty set of photos called “Space Monkey Pictures: 50- Year Anniversary”. Check it out for an overview of the Grand Tradition that continues here at Space Base 8!