The history of animal testing in space is a long one, but one of the most important parts of it is held by monkeys. During the 1940s, scientists began sending various types of animals into space with a goal of determining conditions in the harsh environment of space. After the end of initial fears that no life can survive in the weightlessness and space radiation, American scientist embraced a long running program that sent over 15 monkeys into orbit. Those early experiments paved the way for the future manned mission to space, and vast expansion of scientific knowledge that awaited us beyond the Earth.

American focus with monkeys can easily be explained with their relative ease of training, and their physical and biological similarities to the humans. In addition to investigating influences of space on monkey’s bodies and their abilities to preform simple trained actions, many of the flights also tested various new materials, equipment, and other procedures that would eventually be used in the upcoming manned space missions.

First wave of missions that launched several monkeys above the upper layers of the Earth used V2 and later on Aerobee rockets (famously, V2 represented redesigned models of German WW2 rockets). Six monkeys that went toward the space in between 1949 and 1952 did not managed to survive their missions, but scientist still managed to record vast amounts of important observations and data. Most important flights from that time were undoubtedly those of monkey Albert II who managed reach the altitude of 83 miles and officially enter space, and Albert VI, who managed to survive his landing. Sadly, even he died few hours later from overheating, while waiting his rescue party to save him from scorching sun of New Mexico.
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