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Yorick

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description Yorick Overview

Yorick, also referred to as Albert VI, was a rhesus monkey who participated in an Aerobee rocket flight on September 20, 1951, launched from Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The flight carried Yorick and 11 mice to an altitude of approximately 45 miles (72 kilometers), reaching the edge of space. Yorick became the first monkey to be recovered alive after a rocket flight, though he died several hours after landing from heat stress. While Albert IV had reached space earlier in 1949, Yorick's survival of the landing marked a significant milestone in understanding the effects of space travel on primates.

help Yorick FAQ

Who was Yorick the monkey?

Yorick, also officially known as Albert VI, was a monkey used by the United States in early spaceflight testing. He flew aboard an Aerobee rocket in 1951.

What made Yorick's spaceflight historically significant?

Yorick became the first primate to survive a rocket flight and be recovered alive after landing. This 1951 mission proved that complex mammals could withstand the stresses of launch and reentry.

What kind of rocket carried Yorick on his flight?

He was launched into the upper atmosphere using an Aerobee sounding rocket. This early US liquid-propellant rocket was specifically designed for scientific research rather than orbital spaceflight.

Did Yorick the monkey go into space before humans?

Yes, Yorick's successful recovery in 1951 occurred a full decade before Alan Shepard became the first American human in space. However, Yorick only reached suborbital altitudes, not actual Earth orbit.

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