In 1963, amidst the intense space race between the Soviet Union and the United States, France made a significant move to establish itself in the space arena by sending a cat named Félicette to space. Félicette, a former stray cat, was selected by the French space agency for this historic mission. Along with 13 other female stray cats, Félicette underwent rigorous training to prepare for space travel, including confinement in small containers and exposure to high G-forces. She also had electrodes implanted in her brain to monitor her neurological activity during the journey.
On October 18, 1963, Félicette boarded the French Véronique AG1 rocket and successfully reached sub-orbital space, becoming the first and only feline to achieve this feat. The mission lasted 13 minutes, with five minutes of weightlessness experienced by the brave space cat. Upon returning to Earth, Félicette landed safely and was retrieved by a waiting helicopter.
Despite her heroic contribution to science, Félicette’s story took a tragic turn when she was euthanized two months after her space journey for research purposes. Scientists wanted to study the effects of space travel on her body to improve the safety of manned flights. Although Félicette’s sacrifice led to valuable insights, her story was largely forgotten over time, overshadowed by other famous space animals like Laika and Ham.
In 2017, a dedicated space enthusiast launched a Kickstarter campaign to commemorate Félicette’s legacy. The campaign successfully raised funds to create a bronze statue of Félicette, which now stands at the International Space University Campus in Strasbourg. The statue portrays Félicette gazing towards the sky, symbolizing her pioneering journey into space.
While human astronauts eventually took over space exploration, the contributions of animals like Félicette, Laika, and others were instrumental in advancing our knowledge of space travel. These brave animals paved the way for safe human space missions and deserve recognition for their role in shaping space history. Let us remember and honor the courage of Félicette and all the animals who ventured into the unknown depths of space.
