Sixty years ago, Enos the chimpanzee successfully completed two orbits of Earth in 1961 after extensive training, serving as the final test before humans like John Glenn ventured into space.
Early animal spaceflights, including the Soviet dog Laika (the first to orbit but who did not survive) and U.S. monkeys like the Alberts (who died on impact), were high-risk endeavors crucial for understanding survival in space.
These pioneering animal missions, initially fraught with trial and error during the Cold War space race, have evolved into more humane scientific research involving various species on missions to the International Space Station today.
Sixty years ago this week, humanity sent its bravest into Earth’s orbit—a chimpanzee named Enos.
In the midst of the Cold War, the U.S. had set its sights on the moon, but strapping yourself to a rocket wasn’t exactly as common as it is today. So, in the early 1960s, NASA sent dozens of animals into space to make sure humans could survive prolonged periods of weightlessness.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Jeremy attained his bachelor's in journalism and emerging media from Kennesaw State University. He also served in the Georgia Air National Guard as a C-130 Crew Chief for six years, holding an associate in aircraft maintenance technology.
