The Economic Times

In 1958, the US launched Gordo the squirrel monkey 300 miles above Earth; he endured 8.3 minutes of weightlessness and 40 g during re-entry, but died after his capsule sank at sea

In the historic space flight of 1958, Gordo, a courageous squirrel monkey, faced intense conditions that ultimately validated human survival in the cosmos. Although a flotation device malfunction led to his spacecraft's descent into the ocean, the mission was deemed partially successful by the US Army. The crucial data gathered from Gordo's experience played a vital role in advancing Project Mercury further.