Albert I was a rhesus macaque monkey and the first mammal launched on a rocket (V-2 Rocket "Blossom No. 3") on June 18, 1948. The launch was staged at White Sands Proving Ground, Las Cruces, New Mexico. Albert I, a nine-pound monkey, was anesthetized and placed inside the rocket's crew capsule in the nose of the V-2 rocket.
Background
The "Albert" project was plagued by numerous operational failures. The respiratory apparatus failed before launch, and the parachute system also failed. Albert likely died due to breathing problems, but since the capsule's parachute failed to open, Albert I would have died on impact anyway. The V-2 Blossom (designated "missile number 37") reached an altitude of 39 miles (62 km), reaching the mesosphere, but due to a failed valve, the rocket's ascent to space was cut short.
The project continued with the successful June 14, 1949, launch of Albert II into space in a suborbital flight, though he also died (on impact).
See also
Monkeys and apes in space
Animals in space
Laika, a Russian space dog, the first animal to orbit the Earth (November 3, 1957) Ham, a chimpanzee, the first great ape in space (January 31, 1961) Enos, the first chimpanzee and third primate to orbit the Earth (November 29, 1961) List of individual monkeys