How A Stray Named Félicette Became The First Cat In Space

In 1963, Félicette, a stray cat found in the streets of Paris, became the first cat in space. Her journey, both inspiring and tragic, sheds light on the early days of space exploration and the sacrifices made in the name of science.

In the annals of space exploration, many animals have become pioneers, testing the limits of science before humans ventured into the unknown. Laika, the Soviet dog, is perhaps the most famous, but a lesser-known feline named Félicette also holds a special place in the history of space travel.

The First Cat In Space

By the early 1960s, the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union was well underway. Both superpowers were sending animals into space to test the effects of space travel on living organisms before sending humans. The Soviets sent Laika the dog, while the United States launched chimpanzees such as Ham. However, France, eager to participate in the burgeoning field of space research, chose a more unusual candidate for their mission: a cat.

The French government selected 14 cats to be potential space travelers, all of whom were strays found on the streets of Paris. These cats underwent rigorous training and testing to ensure they could withstand the conditions of space travel. Eventually, one particular female cat stood out due to her calm demeanor and suitability for the mission. She would later be named Félicette, though some accounts claim she was initially called “C 341” during the selection process. Unlike other animal astronauts, Félicette was a relatively unknown figure until her fateful journey made her famous.

Why a Cat?

Why did the French choose a cat for their space experiment? The primary objective of the mission was to study the effects of microgravity and space travel on the brain and nervous system. Cats were seen as ideal candidates because their calm nature and small size made them manageable during testing. Moreover, the idea was to gather data on how animals responded to the lack of gravity, with the hope that it could later be applied to human spaceflight.

In addition, France’s space program was just beginning to make significant strides. While the Soviets and Americans focused on primates and dogs, the French wanted to test their theories with a different animal, demonstrating that they too could contribute valuable research to the growing field of space exploration.

Félicette’s Historic Flight

On October 18, 1963, Félicette’s journey to the stars began. She was placed inside a specially designed capsule atop a Veronique AG1 rocket at a French space center in Hammaguir, Algeria, which was then under French control. The rocket launched successfully, and Félicette was sent to an altitude of about 157 kilometers (97 miles) into space. During her brief time in space, electrodes implanted in her brain sent neurological data back to scientists on Earth. Her reactions to the lack of gravity were carefully monitored.

The entire mission lasted only 15 minutes, with Félicette experiencing a few minutes of weightlessness before her capsule descended back to Earth. Equipped with a parachute, the capsule landed safely, and Félicette survived the flight, making her the first and only cat to travel to space and return alive.

The mission was deemed a success. Félicette’s brain activity was thoroughly recorded throughout the journey, providing scientists with critical information about how the nervous system reacts to space travel. The data collected from her flight helped researchers better understand how humans might cope with the physical and mental stresses of being in space.

The Tragic Aftermath

Despite the success of the mission, Félicette’s story took a tragic turn. Two months after her historic flight, she was euthanized so scientists could study her brain in greater detail. This post-mission examination was standard practice at the time, as researchers sought to understand the long-term effects of space travel on the body and brain. Her death, like that of many animal astronauts, highlights the often-overlooked sacrifices animals made in the early years of space exploration.

While Félicette’s flight paved the way for future research and human space missions, she faded into obscurity after her death. For decades, her name was largely forgotten, overshadowed by other animal astronauts like Laika and Ham.

Félicette’s Legacy

In recent years, however, there has been a renewed effort to honor Félicette and ensure her place in the history of space exploration. In 2019, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, a bronze statue of the first cat in space, Félicette was unveiled at the International Space University (ISU) in Strasbourg, France. The statue depicts Félicette sitting on top of Earth, gazing toward the stars—an appropriate tribute to a cat who once ventured into the unknown on behalf of science.

This recognition was long overdue. Félicette’s contribution to space exploration may have been short-lived, but her role as the first cat in space is significant. Like other animals sent to space, she played a crucial part in helping scientists understand how living beings react to spaceflight and microgravity. Her mission contributed to the broader knowledge that eventually made human space travel possible.

Félicette’s story is a remarkable chapter in the history of space exploration. As the first and only cat to be launched into space, she represents the unsung contributions of animals to scientific discovery. Though her life ended tragically, her legacy lives on through the data she helped gather and the recognition she has finally received.

Today, Félicette’s bronze statue at the International Space University stands as a testament to her pioneering spirit and the sacrifices made by animals in the pursuit of knowledge. Though she may have been a stray cat from the streets of Paris, Félicette’s journey into space forever secured her place among the stars.