On Oct. 18, 1963, Félicette, a stray tuxedo cat from Paris, became the first and only feline to fly to space, riding a French rocket 130 miles above Earth before parachuting safely back. She was euthanised two months later for brain study; a statue was unveiled in her honour in 2019.
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01Summary
- 01Félicette, a stray cat from Paris, launched on a French Véronique AG1 rocket on 18 October 1963.
- 02She reached an altitude of 130 miles (about 210 km) and returned safely by parachute.
- 03Two months after her flight, she was euthanised so scientists could study her brain.
- 04A second French cat launched on 24 October 1963 died when the rocket veered off course.
- 05A bronze statue of Félicette was unveiled at the International Space University in Strasbourg in 2019.
02Why it matters
This story highlights the often-overlooked role of animals in early space exploration, and reminds readers that even a stray Parisian cat helped advance scientific knowledge during the space race, with her legacy now commemorated with a public monument.
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