PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (S ): James P. Henry 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Mercury 2 (MR2) 



CLASSIFICATION : Animal - Chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Behavioral science, Environmental health 



OBJECTIVES : To determine the safety of the Mercury spacecraft for suborbital 

 manned flight. 



PROTOCOL : The chimp, "Ham" was trained for 219 hrs. over a 15 mo. period, and 

 was successfully launched and recovered. Two psychomotor tasks were conducted 

 in flight. After recovery, the chimp was examined for physiological 

 abnormalities. 



EQUIPMENT : ECG electrodes of stainless steel wires threaded subcutaneously, 

 pneumograph, rectal thermistor, chimp couch system, photographic equipment. 



RESULTS : Pulse, respiration, and blood pressure were normal. Performance of 

 tests was unaffected by weightlessness. The chimp reached a speed of 5,800 

 mph and an altitude of 156 mi. over a range of 4 1 4 mi. 



CONCLUSIONS : This experiment demonstrated the validity of Mercury spacecraft. 

 Weightlessness left visual and tactile references unimpaired and showed that 

 physical and mental demands were not excessive. 



PUBLICATIONS : 88, 251, 264, 351, 452, 477, 559 



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