Ham the Astrochimp
The heroic chimpanzee who blazed a trail into space, making history on January 31, 1961
Ham's Journey
July 1957
Birth in Cameroon
Born in the French Cameroon, West Africa, Ham (originally named #65) was captured as an infant and brought to the United States for the space program.
1959
Training Begins
Selected from 40 chimpanzee candidates at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Ham underwent intensive training to perform tasks during spaceflight.
January 31, 1961
Historic Spaceflight
Ham became the first hominid to travel to space aboard the Mercury-Redstone 2 (MR-2) mission, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
During the flight, Ham performed tasks such as pushing levers in response to lights, demonstrating that complex actions could be performed in space. His successful mission paved the way for Alan Shepard's historic flight just three months later.
1963-1980
National Zoo
After his historic flight, Ham lived at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he became a beloved celebrity and inspired countless visitors.
1980-1983
Final Years
Ham spent his final years at the North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, where he lived peacefully until his death on January 19, 1983, at age 25.
Ham's Legacy
Ham's courage and successful mission proved that living beings could survive the harsh conditions of spaceflight, including weightlessness and high g-forces. His contributions were essential to the Mercury program and humanity's journey to the stars.
Originally referred to only by his number (65) to avoid public attachment in case of mission failure, he was named "Ham" after the mission's success—an acronym for Holloman Aerospace Medical Center.
Today, Ham is remembered as a true pioneer of space exploration, a hero who helped make human spaceflight possible. His skeleton is preserved at the National Museum of Health and Medicine, and his contributions will never be forgotten.
Learn more about Ham's incredible story and the ongoing work to protect chimpanzees:
Visit Save the Chimps - Ham's StoryWatch Ham's Historic Mission
Historic footage of Ham's groundbreaking journey to space
Did You Know?
Perfect Performance
Ham correctly performed his lever-pulling tasks 50 out of 50 times during the flight, despite experiencing 14.9g forces during re-entry.
Special Rewards
Ham was rewarded with food pellets and banana pellets for correct responses during training, and received a mild electric shock for incorrect or slow responses.
Celebrity Status
After his flight, Ham became an international celebrity, appearing on television and receiving fan mail from around the world.
Near Miss
Ham's capsule landed 130 miles off course and took on water before rescue. He was reportedly happy to see the recovery ship!
Historic Photos
The famous photo of Ham shaking hands with the commander of the recovery ship became an iconic image of the space race.
Lasting Impact
Ham's successful flight gave NASA the confidence to send Alan Shepard into space just 11 weeks later on May 5, 1961.
Honor Ham's Legacy
Ham's courage and sacrifice helped pave the way for space exploration. Honor his memory by supporting organizations that protect and care for chimpanzees and animals in need.
Save the Chimps provides sanctuary for chimpanzees rescued from research labs and entertainment, including former space chimps.
ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) works to rescue, protect, and find loving homes for animals in need.