Historical Photos To Blow Your Mind: New Release!

Space Jam

This chimp, known as “Ham the Astrochimp,” was launched into outer space, on 31 January 1961, as part of America’s space program. He was the first hominoid to be launched into space. Ham’s name is also an acronym for the lab that prepared him for his historic mission: Holloman Aerospace Medical Center.

Here he is pictured upon his return to earth, after a 16 minute and 39-second flight. He lived for 17 more years after his wild space ride, enjoying his days at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. before moving to the North Carolina Zoo. Ham was regularly referenced in popular culture after his historic flight.