Animals in Space: Gordo the Squirrel Monkey

What was Gordo's role in space exploration in 1958? Gordo was a squirrel monkey launched into space by the U.S. in 1958, but the first animals in space were fruit flies launched by the U.S. in 1947.

Gordo the Squirrel Monkey's Mission

Gordo, the squirrel monkey, played a significant role in space exploration in 1958 as part of the United States' space exploration efforts. Launched aboard the Jupiter AM-13 mission, Gordo was the first of his kind to venture into space. The mission aimed to study the biological effects of space travel on living organisms.

Launch and Mission Details

The spacecraft carrying Gordo was launched atop a Redstone rocket on December 13, 1958, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. During the mission, Gordo reached a suborbital altitude of 157 miles and a maximum speed of 4,800 miles per hour. Gordo experienced approximately 10 minutes of weightlessness during the flight, providing valuable data to researchers.

Contribution to Space Exploration

While Gordo's mission was successful in gathering data on the physiological and psychological effects of space travel on a living organism, the capsule's parachute failed upon re-entry, and Gordo did not survive. However, the information gathered from Gordo's mission was instrumental in furthering understanding of the challenges and risks associated with space exploration, paving the way for future human spaceflights.

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