Astronautics

Ham, the first chimpanzee ever to ride a rocket into space is being examined by doctors in preparation for his flight. Ham, a 37-pound chimp, will ride in the Mercury capsule atop the Mercury-Redstone booster. This is one of a series of launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida scheduled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in its manned orbital flight program.

Neil Armstrong, left, shaking hands with former National Aeronautics and Space Administration head James E. Webb during the fifth anniversary of the launch of Apollo II at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong speaks before the crowd commemorating the fifth anniversary of the launch of Apollo II from Launch Complex 39. Seated left to right: unidentified, Michael Collins, Edwin Aldrin, unidentified, James E. Webb.

The speakers platform during the fifth anniversary celebration commemorating the launch of Apollo II from Launch Complex 39. This was during the naming of the complex as a National Landmark. Seated left to right: unidentified, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin Aldrin, unidentified, James Webb.

James E. Webb, former head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, speaking at the fifth anniversary celebration of the launch of Apollo II from Launch Complex 39.

James E. Webb, former head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, speaking before the large crowd assembled to celebrate the naming of Launch Complex 39 as a National Landmark. This was done on the fifth anniversary of the launch of Apollo II from this complex. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, (seated second from Webb), Michall Collins, and Edwin Aldrin are in attendance.

Photo of Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins unveiling a plaque making Launch Complex 39 a National Landmark on the fifth anniversary of the launch of Apollo II.

Photo of the crew of the first manned Apollo flight: Edward H White II, Virgil I. Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee. All astronauts were killed in a fire on the Apollo rocket.

Overall view of crowd standing beside Building One awaiting the arrival of President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Johnson addressed the crowd of MSC employees during his tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center. In the immediate background is Building 13.

Overall view of crowd standing beside Building One awaiting the arrival of President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Johnson addressed the crowd of MSC employees during his tour of the Manned Spacecraft Center. In the immediate background is Building 16.