The Economic Times

In 1952, Patricia and Mike rode an Aerobee 36 miles up at 2,000 mph; both monkeys returned safely after scientists compared seated and prone acceleration effects

In 1952, two Philippine monkeys named Patricia and Mike embarked on a historic journey aboard a rocket. Scientists sought to understand how body positioning influenced acceleration forces during spaceflight. Remarkably, the monkeys survived their venture and spent the rest of their lives in a zoo, leaving behind a significant legacy that contributed to the design of safe seating for future astronauts.