Ham the Chimp in Space

Ham, a chimpanzee, was launched into space by the United States on January 31, 1961, aboard the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission. He traveled 157 miles into the air and experienced 6.6 minutes of weightlessness.

Result: Ham performed lever-pulling tasks during the flight, proving that motor skills could be maintained in space. He returned safely to Earth, paving the way for the first human astronaut, Alan Shepard, later that year.