In the early 1960s, as the space race intensified, countries began launching animals into space to study how living organisms respond to conditions beyond Earth. While the United States sent monkeys and the Soviet Union sent dogs, France chose a cat. That cat was Félicette, a calm, black-and-white stray who had been rescued from the streets of Paris. Félicette was chosen from a group of candidates due to her small size, stable temperament, and physical health. She underwent several weeks of training, which included exposure to loud noises, confined spaces, and simulated flight conditions. On October 18, 1963, she was launched aboard a suborbital rocket from a site in Algeria. The spacecraft reached _____ of over 150 kilometers, briefly entering space before returning to Earth. Throughout the 15-minute flight, sensors monitored Félicette’s neurological and physiological responses. Her capsule was designed to protect her during both ascent and re-entry, and it successfully deployed a parachute for landing. The data collected provided valuable insights into how mammals respond to space travel, and Félicette became an important figure in early space science.