In 1960, NASA launched rhesus monkey Miss Sam on a Mercury escape test at 1,800 mph

Nasa launched rhesus monkey Miss Sam in January 1960 to test Project Mercury's escape system.

The flight confirmed the escape tower's ability to pull the capsule clear of its booster.

Miss Sam reached 1,800 mph and an altitude of nine miles before recovery.

Her mission data helped assess the safety of the Mercury spacecraft for human flights.

Behavioral and physiological monitoring pioneered on her flight influenced later primate missions.