World's First Astrochimp HAM
I first saw this plaque at the Space History Museum in Alamogordo, New Mexico, the plaque is located by the flag poles in front of the museum and is also where HAM is buried.
WORLD'S FIRST ASTROCHIMP
HAM
BORN: 1955 CAMEROON EQUATORIAL AFRICA
DIED: 18 JAN 1983 NORTH CAROLINA ZOOLOGICAL PARK, NC
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 426 MILES DOWN RANGE FROM THE LAUNCH
SITE.
HAM PROVED THAT MANKIND COULD LIVE AND WORK IN SPACE.
DEDICATED
MARCH 28
1983
Submitted by Cal Bray.