Félicette, a black and white female Parisian stray cat becomes the first cat launched into space.
Félicette (French pronunciation: [fe.liː.sɛt]) was a stray Parisian cat who was the only cat successfully launched into space. She was launched on 18 October 1963 as part of the French space program. Félicette was one of 14 female cats trained for spaceflight. The cats had electrodes implanted onto their skulls so their neurological activity could be monitored throughout the flight. Electrical impulses were applied to the brain and a leg during the flight to stimulate responses. The capsule was recovered 13 minutes after the rocket was ignited. Most of the data from the mission were of good quality, and Félicette survived the flight but was purposely killed two months later for scientific research. A second feline was killed in a launch mishap on 24 October 1963.
Félicette had the designation of C 341 before the flight, and after the flight the media gave her the name Félix, after Félix the Cat.
Centre d'Enseignement et de Recherches de Médecine Aéronautique (CERMA) modified this to the feminine Félicette and adopted it as her official name. She has been commemorated on postage stamps around the world and a statue with her likeness is on display at the International Space University. France's feline biological rocket payloads were preceded by rats and followed by monkeys.