HAM THE ASTROCHIMP

On January 31, 1961, a chimpanzee named HAM — Holloman Aerospace Medical — became the first hominid to travel into outer space.

Launched aboard NASA's Mercury-Redstone 2 rocket from Cape Canaveral, HAM rocketed to an altitude of 690 km and traveled 679 km downrange in just 16 minutes and 39 seconds.

Trained to pull levers in response to signals, HAM proved that complex tasks could be performed in the vacuum of space — paving the way for human spaceflight. His mission was a success. He was recovered alive from the Atlantic Ocean, performing with near-perfect accuracy despite the extreme conditions.

"HAM didn't just go to space — he opened the door for all of humanity."

Now, 60+ years later, HAM soars again — this time on the blockchain. $HAM is a tribute to the bravest chimp who ever lived.

HAM resting after a training session — 1961