Félicette, a French cat, holds the distinction of being the first and only feline to travel into space. In 1963, as part of France’s expanding space program, Félicette was launched aboard a suborbital flight to gather valuable neurological data that would later aid human space travel.
Unlike the more well-known space-faring animals such as Laika the dog and Ham the chimpanzee, Félicette’s story has often been overlooked. However, her mission was vital: electrodes were surgically implanted into her brain to monitor neural impulses during the flight. She ascended to an altitude of about 157 kilometers (97 miles) before safely returning to Earth.
The mission provided critical insights into how living organisms respond to the conditions of spaceflight, paving the way for future manned missions. In recent years, there has been a renewed effort to recognize Félicette’s contribution, including a crowdfunded statue unveiled in her honor at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France.
Félicette’s journey remains a remarkable chapter in the history of space exploration, highlighting the often-overlooked roles that animals have played in advancing human knowledge and achievement.
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