Ham (chimpanzee)

Quick Facts: Who was Ham (chimpanzee)?

Subject:

Ham (chimpanzee)

Known for:

The chimpanzee who achieved the historic milestone of being the first ape in space.

Born:

1957

Died:

1983-01-19

Century / Era:

1957s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Ham (July 1957 – January 19, 1983), a chimpanzee also known as Ham the Chimp and Ham the Astrochimp, was the first ape launched into space. On January 31, 1961, Ham flew a suborbital flight on the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission, part of the U.S. space program's Project Mercury. Ham was known as "No. 65" before he safely returned to Earth. His name was likely in honor of the commander of Holloman Aeromedical Laboratory, Lieutenant Colonel Hamilton "Ham" Blackshear.

Career & Major Achievements

It was also an acronym for the laboratory that prepared him for his historic mission, the Holloman Aerospace Medical Center, located at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, southwest of Alamogordo. Ham was born in the wild in French Cameroon, his birth month retrospectively calculated as July 1957 based on dental eruption. He was captured by animal trappers and sent to the Rare Bird Farm in Miami, Florida.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was purchased by the United States Air Force and brought to Holloman Air Force Base in July 1959. Ham was sold to the United States Air Force for $457. There were originally 40 chimpanzee flight candidates at Holloman.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1957: Birth of Ham (chimpanzee) — The chimpanzee who achieved the historic milestone of being the first ape in space.
2. 1959: 1959 Milestone — He was purchased by the United States Air Force and brought to Holloman Air Force Base in July 1959.
3. 1961: 1961 Milestone — On January 31, 1961, Ham flew a suborbital flight on the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission, part of the U.
4. 1983 (1983-01-19): Passing & Historical Legacy — Ham (chimpanzee) passed away on 1983-01-19, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Ham (chimpanzee)

“Ham was the first great ape launched into space.” (1961)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ham (chimpanzee)

True or False: “Ham was the first great ape launched into space.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This is historically accurate; Ham achieved this milestone on January 31, 1961, during the Project Mercury mission MR-2.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Achille Mbembe — Contemporary (Born in 1957) (1957): Cameroonian historian and political theorist known for critiques of colonialism.
• Afrika Bambaataa — Contemporary (Born in 1957) (1957): Pioneering DJ and producer who shaped electro-funk and global hip-hop culture.
• Aga Khan III — Contemporary (Died in 1957) (1957): 48th Imam of the Nizari Isma'ili community and founder of the All-India Muslim League.
• Ahmed Rushdi — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): A legendary Pakistani playback singer, known as the 'Magician of Voice'.
• Alan Moorehead — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Australian war correspondent and author of popular histories, famed for Nile explorations.
• Alfred Tarski — Contemporary (Died in 1983) (1983): Pioneering logician known for model theory and the formal concept of truth.
• Abbas the Great — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (1629): Fifth Safavid Shah of Iran, considered one of the greatest rulers in Iranian history.
• Alberto de Oliveira — Shared historical date (01-19 · Died) (1937): Brazilian poet, pharmacist, and professor, known by the pen name Alberto de Oliveira.
• Ai Weiwei — Historical peer (Born in 1957) (1957): Dissident Chinese conceptual artist, documentarian, and activist known for critiquing the CCP.
• Aki Kaurismäki — Historical peer (Born in 1957) (1957): Acclaimed Finnish director known for melancholic, minimalist, and darkly comic cinema.
• 1957 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1957
• 1983 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1983
• January 19 (01-19) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on January 19

Frequently Asked Questions about Ham (chimpanzee)