AI Insight
On October 18, 1963, France launched Félicette, a stray tuxedo cat from Paris, aboard a Véronique AG1 rocket to an altitude of 130 miles above Earth, making her the first and only cat to travel to space. Félicette was a last-minute substitute for another cat named Felix who escaped before launch, and she successfully returned to Earth via parachute. She was euthanized two months after the flight so scientists could study her brain; a second cat launched on October 24, 1963, died during its mission, after which France shifted to using monkeys for space research.
Why it matters
Félicette's flight represents France's contribution to early space exploration and animal testing during the space race era. Though largely forgotten for decades, a crowdfunded memorial statue was unveiled in her honor in 2019 at the International Space University in Strasbourg, recognizing her role in advancing understanding of biological responses to spaceflight.
Understand the Science
On Oct. 18, 1963, a cat went to space! Félicette was a French “catstronaut” who became the first and only feline to fly to space.
While the U.S. and Soviet Union were busy launching primates, dogs and humans, the French decided to join the space race by launching a cat. Félicette, a stray tuxedo cat from the streets of Paris, was a substitute for another cat named Felix, who somehow escaped on launch day.
So Félicette went where no cat had ever gone before. She boarded a French Véronique AG1 rocket and soared 130 miles above the Earth before safely parachuting back down.
Luckily Félicette made it home alive and well, unlike many of the other animal astronauts that flew during the space race.
Why it mattered
Félicette survived spaceflight, but was short of this world. She was euthanized two months after her recovery so scientists could study her brain.
A second cat was launched by the French on Oct. 24, but its flight did not go so well, veering off course. When the cat was found a day later, it was discovered it have died as a result of the journey. From there on, CERMA (Centre d’Enseignement et de Recherches de Médecine Aéronautique) changed its research to flying monkeys.
Félicette may have become a footnote to history had it not been for a crowdfunded effort to raise a statue in her memory nearly 60 years later. The sculpture was unveiled in 2019 at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. European astronauts Helen Sharman, Paolo Nespoli and Reinhold Ewald were on hand for its reveal.
In addition to the memorial statue, Félicette has been memorialized on postage stamps issued by Chad and Comoros, both former French colonies.
Want more space history? Check out our full On This Day In Space Story archive and watch our On This Day In Space videos on YouTube.
Source: On this day in space! Oct. 18, 1963: France's Félicette Becomes the 1st Cat in Space! >^..^<