On June 4, 1949, a small, unsuspecting rhesus monkey named Albert II embarked on a journey that no primate had ever taken before. Strapped into a tiny capsule atop a V-2 rocket, he was sent hurtling toward the unknown—toward space. It was a moment of incredible bravery, though Albert II had no idea of the history he was about to make. He just knew he was on an adventure.
In the late 1940s, space exploration was still a mystery. Scientists weren’t even sure if living creatures could survive the trip beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Would their hearts keep beating? Could their lungs still function? Could they come back safe?
Albert II was chosen to help answer these questions. He didn’t volunteer—he couldn’t—but he was gentle, intelligent, and full of life, the perfect candidate for this daring experiment.
Blasting off from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Albert II’s tiny body was pressed against his seat as the rocket roared through the sky. Within minutes, he was higher than any primate had ever been—83 miles above Earth, past the Kármán line, where the sky fades into the endless blackness of space.
Floating for a brief, weightless moment, he became the first monkey in history to touch the stars. His vital signs were monitored the whole way, proving that a living being could survive the harsh conditions of space—a critical step toward sending humans beyond our world.
Albert II had done everything right. He had soared into history. But space exploration is never without risk, and tragedy struck on the way back to Earth. As his capsule plummeted home, the parachute failed. There was nothing anyone could do. The small craft crashed upon impact, and Albert II’s incredible journey came to a heartbreaking end.
Albert II may not have lived to see the impact of his voyage, but his mission changed everything. The data he provided gave scientists the confidence to keep going—to dream bigger. Just 12 years later, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth, following in the tiny but significant footsteps of Albert II.
It’s easy to think of space travel as something grand and exciting, full of astronauts and powerful rockets. But before humans could reach the stars, small, brave creatures had to lead the way. Albert II was one of those pioneers, and his courage deserves to be remembered.