Monkeys in Space!

[umtutsut]

Gang,

Since I'm iced-in today, thought I'd post pix of my first two builds for 2011. First, Erik te Groen's 1/96 Jupiter AM-18.

This Jupiter was the launch vehicle for the suborbital flight by monkeys Able and Baker in May 1959. The nose cone soared to an altitude of 360 mi./579 km; both primates were recovered in good condition, and subsequently made the cover of Life magazine (which I used in my display).

Mods were minimal. I used a cut down 1/144 Saturn V J-1 engine bell for the rocket nozzle, a Sculpy nose cone and scratchbuilt small antennas.

Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum & ex-NASA flack)

[WeeVikes]

Dude, you need to get snowed in more often.

That's just outstanding!


Mike

[kenlwest]

Nice display!

Using monkeys to test the launch and space environment illustrates just how unsure the scientists were at the time that they had thought of every possible contingency or scenario.

I wonder if this would even be possible today given the animal rights activists.

Ken