preface
In 1961, the U.S. Mercury-2 spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. As the spacecraft took off, the staff of the launch base erupted into warm applause and cheers. However, this time the mission was different, and the spacecraft was not carrying astronauts, but a special passenger, a chimpanzee.
Before that, American astronauts trained the chimpanzee rigorously to ensure that it could complete its mission and return safely to Earth. U.S. space leaders are also confident in the mission, confident that the chimpanzee will be able to return safely to Earth.
However, after the chimpanzee returned to Earth, it gradually became clear that something seemed to be wrong. The once lively and active chimpanzee has become quiet and depressed, and it is no longer as active as before. Puzzled by the situation, scientists began taking a closer look and study of chimpanzees to figure out what was really going on.
First, the dawn of a new era
In October 1957, the whole world was shocked - the Soviet Union successfully launched the first artificial satellite in human history, Sputnik 1. At this moment, mankind officially entered the space age. The dawn dawned, and mankind's infinite reverie about space was also ignited.
As early as the ancient Greek period, the great philosopher Aristotle reasoned about the nature of the moon. During the Renaissance, Galileo confirmed that the Moon was not a perfect sphere through observations with his homemade telescope. In the 19th century, Sorge and others even painted scenes of landing on the moon. However, until the middle of the 20th century, all this remained only theoretical.
The Soviet Union's feat of launching Sputnik 1 proved that human technology had developed to the point where it could break through Earth's gravity. Space is no longer an unattainable dream, but an accessible goal. This stimulates the desire of all mankind to explore.
At the same time, space also contains great political and military significance in the Cold War pattern. The first country to enter space will not only be able to see the enemy country from the earth, but also occupy the commanding heights ideologically. As a result, a fierce "space race" began between the United States and the Soviet Union.
After 1957, the United States stepped up a series of space programs. The most important of these is Project Mercury, which aims to put people into Earth orbit by 1961. After repeated arguments, scientists believe that animals must go first before really sending people to heaven. Animal test flights can test whether a human body can survive in a space environment.
So, shortly after the launch of Project Mercury, various animals were sent into the blue sky. These include a variety of mammals such as monkeys, dogs and rabbits. While dedicating their lives to humanity's space dreams, they also ended their short lives in roaring and trembling. Undeterred, however, the Americans decided that if a higher primate could survive in space, humanity's dream of ascending to heaven would be one step closer to success.
Second, a different orangutan
In July 1959, NASA collected 40 able-bodied chimpanzees worldwide and sent them to a military base in New Mexico. This will be their training ground for the next two and a half years, and it will also be a turning point in their fate.
The base is located in the foothills of a vast mountain and surrounded by deserted people. Summer heat is unbearable, and winter is cold. For these chimpanzees from the tropical jungle, adapting to the environment will be the first hurdle.
However, more difficult tests are yet to come. They will undergo a variety of painful experiments and training to adapt chimpanzees to the extreme conditions of space. This makes many originally docile orangutans have to expose their wild side, otherwise they cannot bear great pain.
Of the 40 orangutans, one named Hamm stands out. Originally from the tropical jungles of Africa, Hamm was adopted by a zoo. It is smart and clever, and it is loved by breeders. By the age of 5, you can already complete many simple instructions.
Hamm withstood all kinds of brutal training, rotating the centrifuge at high speed for a long time, simulating the effects of weightlessness in space on the brain; strapped to a special chair and subjected to a huge pressure of up to 10 times normal gravity; It was even hoisted upside down and hung head-down.
At first, Hamm, like other orangutans, resisted the training so hard that they didn't understand why they had to endure it. But Hamm's screams ended up being much less. In its place, there was a long roar, as if to vent his inner unwillingness.
To encourage their efforts, trainers reward the orangutans after completing their tasks. For Hamm, the best reward is a fresh banana. Hamm loves this fruit so much that every time he gets a banana, he has a happy smile on his face.
Over the course of about two and a half years of training, most orangutans were unable to hold out. By early 1961, only six were still training. Among them, Hamm's various indices outperformed his companions and became the best choice for this space mission.
3. 16 minutes in the sky
On January 31, 1961, the big day finally arrived. Early in the morning, Hamm arrived at the launch site, dressed in a specially made spacesuit for him, with various instrument lines connected to it. It calmly entered the return capsule, seemingly unaware of what was about to happen.
"Ten, nine, eight..." The sound of transmitting the countdown resounded throughout the base over the radio. The atmosphere in the ground command center was extremely tense, and everyone held their breath and stared at the monitor. Many of them have been involved in Ham's two-and-a-half-year training and have poured great expectations into this moment.
"Three, two, one... Launch!" With the command given, the Mercury-Redstone-2 rocket carrying Hamm roared off and rushed straight into the blue sky. People saw the rocket fly higher and higher, and soon it turned into a small dot and gradually disappeared into the clouds.
To everyone's surprise, the rocket deviated from its intended trajectory and rushed directly with Hamm to an altitude of 252 kilometers above the ground. This is far beyond the originally planned altitude of 185 km. The scientists clenched their fists nervously.
At such a high altitude, Hamm would suffer huge pressure changes. Temperature differences in space will also pose a severe test to their bodies. However, there was no way to know Hamm's condition in the return capsule. The staff of the ground command center can only wait for good news.
After 16 minutes and 39 seconds, the return capsule began to fall, eventually crashing into the Atlantic Ocean. The rescue ship immediately rushed to the sea area where the incident occurred. In the anxious waiting, the return capsule was finally successfully salvaged.
When the hatch opened, a cheer resounded in the command center. Everyone was delighted to find that Hamm was not only unharmed, but was also calling happily. It happily enjoyed the rewards from the trainers - a red apple and half a fresh orange.
This is undoubtedly one of the most encouraging moments for the entire Mercury project. Hamm's successful "space journey" heralds another step away from the bonds of Earth and one step closer to flying into the vast universe.
Fourth, the cruel truth
Hamm's victory bolsters America's confidence to continue space exploration. But on the other hand, the Soviet Union was also in full swing with its own space program. Just three months later, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin entered Earth orbit for the first time, becoming the first human astronaut.
For a time, Hamm became the darling of the Western media and was treated like a national hero. It was sent to the Washington Zoo to recuperate, and thousands of visitors crowded their heads every day to see the "space orangutan."
However, behind the superficial joy and glory, Hamm's physical condition is gradually deteriorating. Its heart beats faster and faster, sometimes reaching 172 beats per minute. This far exceeds the heart rate of a normal chimpanzee.
What worries the breeders the most is that Hamm gradually loses interest in food and even refuses to eat his favorite banana. His face was haggard and his mental state was deteriorating. The zoo had to bring in experts to conduct an inspection.
The results of a series of medical examinations made everyone's hearts sink. It turned out that Hamm's heart was overworking in space and had been severely damaged. It may be due to the low temperature of the return capsule, or it may be caused by a sudden change in gravity. In addition, several organs of Hamm showed signs of failure.
That short 16-minute trip to space cost Hamm, who was not yet 10 years old, such a heavy price. Zoo experts believe that its life expectancy has been greatly reduced. For a chimpanzee that has just reached puberty, this is undoubtedly a cruel sentence.
The U.S. government realized the seriousness of Hamm's condition and immediately sent a top doctor to rescue him. But it was too late. In 1983, at the age of 26, Hamm died peacefully at a zoo in North Carolina, less than half the average chimpanzee lifespan.
Fifth, a big step for humanity
Despite the sad end, Hamm's life undoubtedly shortened humanity's conquest of space. Together with many scientists, engineers and animal astronauts of that era, it led mankind into the space age.
In 1969, the Apollo 11 manned spacecraft landed humans on the moon. When Armstrong's boots first stepped on the surface of the moon, a big step for humanity finally landed. Behind this hero, there are also countless animal pioneers who have quietly sacrificed their lives, including Hamm.
To honor his contribution, Hamm is buried in an astronaut cemetery in New Mexico. It is also the resting place of many aerospace heroes who have dedicated their lives to the American space industry. Although Hamm is a chimpanzee, his courage and thirsty spirit of exploration are no different from human astronauts.
Today, when we look back at that era of heroes and glory, we will not miss the little life of Hamm. Its contribution and sacrifice to space exploration is no less significant than that of any astronaut.
His bravery and contribution to the cause of space will always be remembered by mankind. Hamm shows us the will to chase our dreams and reminds us that the value of life should not be neglected on the road of exploration.
In the 20th century, the space race propelled mankind to achieve a number of space breakthroughs. And in the dawn of this era, the figure of a little hero Hamm is reflected. Together with many dreamers of that era, it led mankind into the space age.
Ham's life is closely linked to dreams of adventure. Its courage comes from curiosity and yearning for the unknown world. At the same time, Hamm also reminds us at the cost of life that life itself is above all else. Today, when we look up at the stars again, we will also remember those who soared with human dreams and thank them for lighting the way to the universe.