While Laika, the Soviet dog, is often remembered as the first animal to orbit Earth in 1957, France soon followed with its own historic mission. According to NASA, on October 18, 1963, French scientists launched the first cat, Félicette, into space aboard the Véronique AGI 47 sounding rocket. She became the first cat to experience weightlessness, providing valuable data on the effects of space travel on living organisms. As part of France’s early space program, Felicette was trained rigorously and equipped with electrodes to monitor neurological and cardiac activity. Her 13-minute suborbital flight was successful, and she was safely recovered. A second cat flight on October 24, however, encountered difficulties and could not be retrieved. Felicette’s mission marked a milestone in animal spaceflight and France’s role in space exploration
Early animal space missions: From fruit flies to France’s first cats
Long before humans ventured into space, animals were used to test survivability in extreme conditions. The earliest missions began in 1947 with fruit flies, which were sent to high altitudes to study radiation effects. In 1949, Albert II, a rhesus monkey, became the first primate and mammal in space, though he tragically died during re-entry due to parachute failure. Over the next decade, numerous dogs and primates followed, including Laika, the first dog to orbit Earth. Inspired by these programs, France established its national space programme in 1961, becoming the third country to launch animals into space. Initial tests used rats, such as Hector, equipped with electrodes to monitor neurological activity, before progressing to larger mammals like cats.
Preparing Felicette for space: Training, electrodes, and physiological monitoring
In 1963, the Centre d’Enseignement et de Recherches de Médecine Aéronautique (CERMA) acquired 14 female cats for testing. Female cats were chosen for their calmer temperaments, and the animals remained unnamed to prevent emotional attachment from the scientists. Permanent electrodes were implanted in their brains to monitor neurological signals during the mission. The cats were trained extensively, including confinement in capsules, exposure to simulated rocket noises, and high-G centrifuge sessions to mimic launch conditions.By mid-October, six cats were shortlisted for the flight. A calm “tuxedo” cat, designated C 341, was selected for her ideal weight and temperament. Electrodes were attached to her legs to monitor cardiac activity, with additional electrodes stimulating electrical impulses during flight. A chest-mounted microphone recorded her breathing, ensuring a detailed collection of physiological data.
Cat in the capsule: Felicette’s historic rocket launch
On October 18, 1963, C 341 was launched aboard the Véronique AGI 47 sounding rocket from Vernon, Haute-Normandie. The suborbital flight lasted 13 minutes, reaching an altitude of 152 kilometers and giving the cat five minutes of weightlessness. Following a successful descent, C 341 was safely recovered and later officially named Felicette, replacing her initial designation, “Félix.”Although Felicette survived the mission, she was euthanized two months later for a necropsy to examine the effects of spaceflight on her brain. Another cat launched on October 24 died due to a rocket malfunction. Nine other cats from the project were euthanized at the program’s conclusion, while one cat, whose electrodes were removed, survived and became the team mascot, named Scoubidou for the braided pattern around her neck.
A star among cats: Felicette’s legacy in space history
Felicette’s flight did not receive the same attention as Laika’s, partly due to public discomfort with images of electrodes implanted in her skull and the rise of the animal rights movement. Despite this, her journey established France as a contributor to early space exploration and expanded scientific understanding of neurological responses in zero gravity. In 2017, a campaign led by Matthey Serge Guy raised funds to commemorate Felicette, resulting in the unveiling of a 1.5-meter bronze statue by sculptor Gill Parker at the International Space University in France on December 18, 2019. The statue depicts Felicette perched atop Earth, gazing skyward, a fitting tribute to the first cat in space and her role in scientific history.Also Read: How volcanoes form under the sea: Formation, eruptions and environmental impact
