American Civilization

Maybe it’s because there have been so many serious news items this week – from the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice to California’s Supreme Court upholding Proposition 8 – but I was really taken by a story I heard the other morning.  This week marked the 50th anniversary of the successful flight of two U.S. monkeys in space.

The two monkeys – both female – were named Able and Baker. Able was a rhesus monkey and Baker was a much smaller squirrel monkey.  The myth identifies these two monkeys as the first living creatures to return safely from space.

I was surprised to learn that fruit flies had been launched into space in 1947.  Then there were several attempts to send monkeys into space beginning in 1948 which were not terribly successful.  These animal « astronauts » did not survive for various reasons.

Able and Baker were celebrities on their return to earth.  Journalists even lined up to « interview » them!  But, as I was listening to the story, I could only imagine that if such an attempt were tried today, that those working on this particular part of the space program would only be met by protests of animal abuse.

To see some photos and read the story, click here.