May 28, 1959 –
America launched a Jupiter rocket on this date, containing a rhesus monkey named Able and a squirrel monkey named Miss Baker. After experiencing nine minutes of microgravity, the capsule successfully returns to Earth with both monkeys intact.
However, Able died during surgery to remove his electrodes. Able was then stuffed and mounted and is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute of Air and Space Museum.
There is no truth to the rumor that Miss Baker went on to carry on a long term dalliance with President Kennedy and Frank Sinatra.
And so it goes
The Haus of Dcaligari 