Meet Felicette, the first and only cat sent to space
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Sep 13, 2023, 09.00 AM IST
Almost six decades ago, a cat from Paris made a historic journey into space, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of space exploration. Felicette, a distinctive black and white cat, earned fame as the sole feline to venture into space. This momentous event coincided with the growing fascination with space exploration among experts.On October 18, 1938, France's rocket named "Veronique", designed for carrying space passengers, had a truly unique passenger aboard – a cat!
Felicette, who once roamed the streets of Paris, embarked on a suborbital mission that would take her 96 miles above Earth's surface. On being chosen by scientists for this groundbreaking mission, Felicette became the first living being sent into space and then studied for the effects of space travel.
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However, Felicette was not the only cat selected for this mission; she was one of several felines chosen. To prevent emotional attachment, the cat was assigned a number instead of a name-- C341. She underwent rigorous astronaut training to prepare for her journey, including enduring high gravitational forces inside a centrifuge.
While many cats vied for a place in the space race, C341, later known as Felicette, emerged as the star of the show. The name "Felicette" was bestowed upon the cat only after she survived her extraordinary journey into space.
As this marked the initial foray into the uncharted territory of space, scientists were eager to understand how a living being experienced space. Felicette (formerly C341) had her heart rate and breathing monitored through electrodes implanted in her body.
Sadly, Felicette's story took a saddening turn when, a few months after her return to Earth, scientists euthanized her to conduct an in-depth examination of her brain. This experiment was kept secret from the media due to concerns about potential public outcry over animal cruelty. Space explorers believed that Felicette's sacrifice contributed to the noble cause of advancing human space exploration.
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In 2017, Felicette's invaluable contribution was recognized by over 1,100 individuals who collectively donated $57,000 to launch a campaign named "Felicette's Fury". The campaign's objective was to commemorate the first cat ever sent into space by raising funds to create a 5-foot-tall statue of Felicette, proudly perched atop the globe, with the caption "Astrocat" beneath it. It was unveiled at the International Space University in France. The statue is a memorial to honour Felicette's contribution to space research.
Felicette, who once roamed the streets of Paris, embarked on a suborbital mission that would take her 96 miles above Earth's surface. On being chosen by scientists for this groundbreaking mission, Felicette became the first living being sent into space and then studied for the effects of space travel.
However, Felicette was not the only cat selected for this mission; she was one of several felines chosen. To prevent emotional attachment, the cat was assigned a number instead of a name-- C341. She underwent rigorous astronaut training to prepare for her journey, including enduring high gravitational forces inside a centrifuge.
While many cats vied for a place in the space race, C341, later known as Felicette, emerged as the star of the show. The name "Felicette" was bestowed upon the cat only after she survived her extraordinary journey into space.
As this marked the initial foray into the uncharted territory of space, scientists were eager to understand how a living being experienced space. Felicette (formerly C341) had her heart rate and breathing monitored through electrodes implanted in her body.
Sadly, Felicette's story took a saddening turn when, a few months after her return to Earth, scientists euthanized her to conduct an in-depth examination of her brain. This experiment was kept secret from the media due to concerns about potential public outcry over animal cruelty. Space explorers believed that Felicette's sacrifice contributed to the noble cause of advancing human space exploration.
In 2017, Felicette's invaluable contribution was recognized by over 1,100 individuals who collectively donated $57,000 to launch a campaign named "Felicette's Fury". The campaign's objective was to commemorate the first cat ever sent into space by raising funds to create a 5-foot-tall statue of Felicette, proudly perched atop the globe, with the caption "Astrocat" beneath it. It was unveiled at the International Space University in France. The statue is a memorial to honour Felicette's contribution to space research.