One Small Step: America's First Primates in Space

Before Alan B. Shephard, John Glenn, and the rest of the Mercury astronauts made their famous flights, America's space program used a different sort of test pilot-chimpanzees. Possessing a combination of intelligence and physical toughness, they were the perfect subjects. And so, in January 1961, a three-year-old chimp named Ham was rocketed into space, propelling the United States one step closer to the goal of manned space flight. Ten months later, another chimp, named Enos, soared into orbit. Both chimps were instant worldwide celebrities. But what happened to Ham, Enos, and NASA's specialized chimpanzee colony after they faded into history?

David Cassidy and Patrick Hughes tell the story of these brave "astrochimps," revealing how they were trained for space flight, and how NASA rewarded the colony-which was retired in 1997-for their long and dependable service.

DVD

Documentary on Ham, his flight, the other astrochimps, and their early exploration of space.