ONE SMALL STEP: THEIR STORY CHAPTER ONE

Chapter One: An Introduction... The Space Program will likely be recognized as one of the most important and memorable accomplishments of the 20th Century. Many believe that when historians look back, this period will be remembered as the time when man first reached the stars and expanded the world beyond the confines of earth. Most remember Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and Gus Grissom. But few know many of the details of the early steps taken to make their historic missions more than just a dream.

Before man ever rode the space ocean, there were chimps. And even before chimps there were other primates, mice, fruit flies, and other assorted creatures. But that's a whole other story for another day. These early pioneers may not be remembered like their human counterparts, but their contributions paved the path to the stars and made manned space exploration a reality. What follows is their long journey. What follows is some long overdue recognition to some American heroes. What follows is the story of man's closest relative's contributions to the study of space, their fate, and a story that doesn't have an easy, happy, Hollywood ending.

This is the story of the space chimps and their incredible journey. This story has been played with on television and the big screen. But fiction can't convey the incredible reality of this story. It is not just about a couple of chimps who were sent up in a rocket. No, this is a story about Africa, New Mexico, the Cold War, Florida, President Kennedy, the Mercury Astronauts, the space program, and more. This is the beginning of what President Kennedy called the "...most hazardous and dangerous and greatest adventure on which man has ever embarked." Well, chimps went first and this is their story. This is One Small Step:The Story of the Space Chimps.

Go To Chapter 2: In The Beginning