In the late 1950s, American scientists very publicly readied a crew of monkeys for a series of trips into Earth orbit and back. As far as the researchers knew, Project Discoverer was an actual, honest-to-Ike peaceful scientific program. Naturally, they were wrong about that. In reality, their work was part of an elaborate cover-up masking a spy satellite program. At The Primate Diaries, Eric Michael Johnson reports on some fascinating space history.

  • John B. Seals

    Sheesh Maggie! Your’e on a roll. Another good story

  • spacedmonkey

    Won’t somebody think of the poor space monkeys?

  • Finnagain

    Did they have space-based, weaponized banana slicing technology?

  • Nadreck

    Another successful operation by Lance Link, Secret Chimp, agent of A.P.E. (Agency to Prevent Evil)!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d5dKBMK5mo

  • Mark Dow

    Thanks Alberts. And I’m sorry.

  • dr.hypercube