The Brevard Humane Society is pleased to partner with the American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame on January 18, 2020 for a special adoption event in honor of the pioneering progress of manned missions through the past five decades.

January 2020 will mark 59 years since a young chimpanzee was launched into space on a suborbital flight that lasted a little over 16 minutes. HAM, the Astrochimp, as he would later become known, was named for the Holloman Aerospace Medical Center, the lab located on New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base that prepared him for his historic flight into space. Launched from Cape Canaveral, HAM would make aeronautic history aboard a NASA space capsule- and traveling almost 160 miles above the Earth to become the first chimp in space.

“On January 31, 1961, HAM became the first chimpanzee in space, and we are proud to honor HAM, his courage, and his sacrifice,” stated Theresa Clifton, Executive Director of the Brevard Humane Society. “HAM’s flight is remarkable for many reasons. He not only survived the flight, but performed his tasks despite the rigors of space flight and the fear he must have experienced. His courage and heroism ultimately paved the way for Alan Shepard, Jr., the first American in space.”

In addition to the adoption hosted by the Brevard Humane Society at 10 am, the anniversary celebration also looks to the future. Keynote speakers will seek to explore how animals might continue to shape the industry, and guests may enjoy a special “out of this world” pet photo session and stay for an exclusive showing of American Animal Astronaut Heroes at 6pm. For more information, regarding this event, please contact Debora at 321.636.3343 x 218 or events@brevardhumanesociety.org.

The Brevard Humane Society is a 501 (C)(3) animal welfare organization, solicitation #CH-11499, dedicated to the care and adoption of abandoned animals. Donations made to the Brevard Humane Society are tax-deductible.