Alamogordo in Otero County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

World's First Astrochimp Ham

Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024

1. World's First Astrochimp Ham Marker

Inscription. Born: 1955 Cameroons, Equatorial Africa; Died: 18 Jan. 1983 North Carolina Zoological Park, N.C.; Ham was trained at Holloman AFB, Aeromedical Research Laboratory. His name is an acronym for Holloman Aero Med. Ham's training culminated on Jan. 3, 1961, by riding in a capsule perched atop an 83-foot Redstone rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Reaching a top speed of 5,800 mph and an altitude of 155 miles, he was recovered at sea 420 miles down range from the launch site. Ham proved that mankind could live and work in space.

Dedicated March 28, 1983

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Animals. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1983.

Location. 32° 55.23′ N, 105° 55.253′ W. Marker is in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in Otero County. It is on State Route 2001 0.4 miles east of N Scenic Drive. The marker is located on the grounds of the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3198 State Rte 2001, Alamogordo NM 88310, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s

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Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: LA 2,000,000 (here, next to this marker); Minitrack Satellite Tracking System Antenna (within shouting distance of this marker); German Air Force Tornado 45+11 (within shouting distance of this marker); Apollo Command Module Boilerplate S/N 1207 (within shouting distance of this marker); H-1 Rocket Engine (within shouting distance of this marker); Daisy Track Waterbrake (within shouting distance of this marker); X-7A Test Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker); F-117A "Nighthawk" Ingress/Egress Trainer (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alamogordo.

Also see . . . Ham (chimpanzee). Wikipedia

Ham (July 1957 – January 19, 1983), a chimpanzee also known as Ham the Chimp and Ham the Astrochimp, was the first great ape
Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024

2. The view of the World's First Astrochimp Ham Marker on the ground at the museum parking lot.
launched into space. On January 31, 1961, Ham flew a suborbital flight on the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission, part of the U.S. space program's Project Mercury.

(Submitted on August 9, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Ham the chimp image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - NASA, January 31, 1961

3. Ham the chimp

Chimpanzee "Ham" in space suit is fitted into the couch of the Mercury-Redstone 2 capsule #5 prior to its test flight which was conducted on January 31, 1961.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 192 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.