Albert I (monkey)

Albert I was a rhesus macaque monkey and the first mammal launched on a rocket (V-2 Rocket "Blossom No. 3") on June 18, 1948.^[1][2] The launch was staged at White Sands Proving Ground, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Albert I, a nine-pound monkey, was anesthetized and placed inside the rocket's crew capsule in the nose of the V-2 rocket.^[2] The flight did not reach outer space.

Background

The "Albert" project was plagued by numerous operational failures. The respiratory apparatus failed before launch, and the parachute system also failed.^[2] Albert likely died due to breathing problems, but since the capsule's parachute failed to open, Albert I would have died on impact anyway.^[1][3] The V-2 Blossom (designated "missile number 37") reached an altitude of 39 miles (62 km), reaching the mesosphere, but due to a failed valve, the rocket's ascent to space failed.^[1][3]

The project continued with the successful June 14, 1949, launch of Albert II into space in a suborbital flight, though he also died (on impact).^[2][4]

See also

• Monkeys and apes in space
• Animals in space
• Laika, a Russian space dog, the first animal to orbit the Earth (November 3, 1957)
• Ham, a chimpanzee, the first great ape in space (January 31, 1961)
• Enos, the first chimpanzee and third primate to orbit the Earth (November 29, 1961)
• List of individual monkeys

References

1. Beischer, Dietrich E. Fregly, Alfred R. (1962) ANIMALS AND MAN IN SPACE. A CHRONOLOGY AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY THROUGH THE YEAR 1960, NAVAL SCHOOL OF AVIATION MEDICINE PENSACOLA FL.
2. "History of Research in Space Biology and Biodynamics, - PART I - THE BEGINNINGS OF RESEARCH IN SPACE BIOLOGY AT THE AIR FORCE MISSILE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, 1946-1952". history.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
3. Teitel, Amy Shira (2014-06-21). "The Alberts, Spaceflight's Unsung Heroes". Popular Science. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
4. "Animals in Space". history.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-06-14.