Ham the Astrochimp

On January 31, 1961, a three-year-old chimpanzee named Ham became a pioneering figure in space exploration by riding into suborbital space inside a Mercury capsule, marking a significant milestone for the United States space program. Scientists chose chimpanzees due to their similarities to humans, enabling them to test and learn about space travel safely before sending astronauts. This book by Richard Hilliard celebrates Ham's historic contribution and the role he played in opening the outer reaches of space for humans.