Which cat flew into space? - briefly
The first cat to fly into space was a stray named Felicette, launched by France in 1963 aboard the Veronique AG1 rocket. She reached an altitude of 156 kilometers before safely parachuting back to Earth.
Which cat flew into space? - in detail
The first feline to venture into space was a stray named Félicette, who made history on October 18, 1963. This extraordinary event took place during the Space Race, when both the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in fierce competition to achieve new milestones in space exploration.
Félicette's journey was part of a French scientific program aimed at studying the effects of weightlessness on living organisms. The mission, known as "Chat" (French for "cat"), involved launching a sounding rocket from the Algerian Sahara. Félicette, equipped with electrodes to monitor her vital signs, was securely placed inside the capsule and blasted off into space.
The rocket reached an altitude of approximately 156 kilometers before descending back to Earth. Throughout the flight, which lasted about 13 minutes, Félicette's physiological data were transmitted to the ground control team. Upon her safe return, scientists meticulously analyzed the collected data, contributing significantly to our understanding of how weightlessness affects living organisms.
Félicette's mission was a resounding success, marking a significant achievement in space biology and animal research. Her legacy serves as a testament to the pioneering spirit that propelled early space exploration efforts. Despite being largely overshadowed by the more high-profile human space missions, Félicette's remarkable journey remains a notable chapter in the history of spaceflight.