H.A.M.HAM (Holloman Aero Medical) AKA Chang, AKA #65 went through 18 months of training before going on to be the first chimp in space. On January 31, 1961, after sitting strapped to the top of a rocket for hours, HAM blasted off for a 16. 5 minute space flight. HAM successfully pulled levers according to light cues while traveling at a speed of 5,800 mph to a height of 157 miles above the earth, experiencing 6. 5 minutes of weightlessness. He was only 3. 5