In 1961, squirrel monkey Goliath launched from Cape Canaveral; rocket failed

Goliath, a squirrel monkey, was launched on a space mission in 1961. His rocket veered off course just thirty-five seconds after liftoff. Mission control then chose to destroy the vehicle mid-air to prevent disaster. Goliath perished in the explosion, ending his brief space career. His failed mission remains a tragic footnote in early space exploration history.