BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//New Mexico Museum of Space History - ECPv6.15.14//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for New Mexico Museum of Space History REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20240101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20260308T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20261101T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20270314T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20271107T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251003T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251003T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200719 CREATED:20250919T210824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250919T210824Z UID:22885-1759482000-1759485600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Launch Pad Lecture: 49 & Counting - The NM Museum of Space History's Countdown to 50 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/launch-pad-lecture-49-counting-the-nm-museum-of-space-historys-countdown-to-50/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FB_Event_ISHF-Anniversary_LPL-Post.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251018T060000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251018T153000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20250909T142822Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T184314Z UID:22855-1760767200-1760801400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Annual Trinity Site Tour DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/annual-trinity-site-tour/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events,Tours ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Untitled-design-5.png ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251025T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251025T210000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251009T190702Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251009T191354Z UID:22920-1761418800-1761426000@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Wings & Water - New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Star Party DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/wings-water-new-mexico-museum-of-space-historys-astronomy-league-star-party/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events,Nighttime Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Star-Party-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251031T130000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251031T160000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251020T181846Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T185401Z UID:22946-1761915600-1761926400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission Meeting DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-governors-commission-meeting-6/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Quarterly Meeting ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FB_Event_Governors-Commission-Mtg.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251102T133000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251102T150000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251029T145654Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251029T145654Z UID:22984-1762090200-1762095600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Join us on Sunday for a free live stream of Preservation Moon! DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/join-us-on-sunday-for-a-free-live-stream-of-preservation-moon/ LOCATION:Online ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Zoom-lecture-Karen-nov.-2-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251104T083000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251104T113000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251028T213607Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251103T204618Z UID:22981-1762245000-1762255800@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Clean-up Event at the Museum Grounds DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/clean-up-event-at-the-museum-grounds/ LOCATION:NM CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Clean-up-day-breaking-bad-habits-1200-x-628-px-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251107T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251107T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251024T150507Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251118T214807Z UID:22962-1762506000-1762509600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Launch Pad Lecture: Storms\, Science & Surveyor: The Story of Apollo 12 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/launch-pad-lecture-storms-science-surveyor-the-story-of-apollo-12/ LOCATION:NM CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FB_Event_Launchpad-Lecture.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251112 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251113 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251107T191119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251107T191119Z UID:23014-1762905600-1762991999@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:NM Veterans Honored with Free Admission DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/nm-veterans-honored-with-free-admission/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Commemorations,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/FB_Event_Veterans-Day_free-admission.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251205T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251205T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251124T232144Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T232334Z UID:23031-1764925200-1764928800@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Launch Pad Lecture: Preservation Moon - Defining and Preserving the Cultural Landscape of Tranquility Base DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/launch-pad-lecture-preservation-moon-defining-and-preserving-the-cultural-landscape-of-tranquility-base/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FB_Event_Launchpad-Lecture.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251213T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251213T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251203T182722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251203T182722Z UID:23035-1765623600-1765634400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Holiday on the Hill DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/holiday-on-the-hill-2/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FB_Event_Holiday-on-the-Hill_2025.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260102T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260102T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251224T163614Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251224T163807Z UID:23074-1767344400-1767348000@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture: "Apollo\, The Men in the Moon" DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/museum-of-space-history-launch-pad-lecture-january-2026/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FB_Event_Launchpad-Lecture.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260108T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260108T200000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251224T171202Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251224T171202Z UID:23082-1767898800-1767902400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/museum-of-space-historys-astronomy-league-monthly-meeting-january-2026/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Meeting.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260114 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260116 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260113T154034Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T154034Z UID:23158-1768348800-1768521599@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:The New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium will be closed January 14 and 15 for Staff Training DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/the-new-horizons-dome-theater-and-planetarium-will-be-closed-january-14-and-15-for-staff-training/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Theater Showings ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FB_Event_Theater-Closed_for-staff-training.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260116 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260119 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260113T164802Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T164911Z UID:23170-1768521600-1768780799@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Join the New Mexico Museum of Space History at the Albuquerque Comic Con DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/join-the-new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-at-the-albuquerque-comic-con/ LOCATION:Albuquerque Convention Center\, NM\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FB_Event_ABQ-Comic-Con_2026-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260130T133000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260130T160000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260109T171909Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T210200Z UID:23149-1769779800-1769788800@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission Meeting DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-governors-commission-meeting-7/ LOCATION:Stewart L. Udall Center for Museum Resources\, 725 Camino Lejo\, Santa Fe\, NM\, 87505\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FB_Event_Governors-Commission-Mtg.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260131T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260131T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20251224T175619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T180809Z UID:23085-1769857200-1769868000@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Join us for "HAM Day" at the New Mexico Museum of Space History! DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/go-bananas-for-ham-the-astrochimp-at-free-science-saturday/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FB_Event_HAM-Day_generic3.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260206T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260206T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260129T153231Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260129T153354Z UID:23250-1770368400-1770372000@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:NM Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture: "From Shuttle Camp to Spaceship" DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/nm-museum-of-space-history-launch-pad-lecture-from-shuttle-camp-to-spaceship/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FB_Event_Launchpad-Lecture.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260212T170000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260212T203000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260204T172321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260204T204640Z UID:23370-1770915600-1770928200@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with Rockets and Rosé at the New Mexico Museum of Space History DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-rockets-and-rose/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Nighttime Events,Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Rockets-n-Rose_generic.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260227T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260227T160000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260217T224216Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T181319Z UID:23424-1772197200-1772208000@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission Meeting (Special) DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-governors-commission-meeting-8/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Governors-Commission-Mtg_special.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260228T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260228T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260224T180443Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T203515Z UID:23465-1772276400-1772287200@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Celebrate John Glenn’s historic trip around the Earth with an egg drop at New Mexico Museum of Space History on Feb. 28 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/celebrate-john-glenns-historic-trip-around-the-earth-with-an-egg-drop-at-new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-on-feb-28/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Science-Saturday_generic1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260306T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260306T220000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260224T212704Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T134507Z UID:23476-1772787600-1772834400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture: Listen to the Stars: How a Blind Astronomer “Hears” the Cosmos DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-launch-pad-lecture-blind-astronomer-wanda-diaz-merced/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Launchpad-Lecture_2026-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260308T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260308T160000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260223T213746Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T181148Z UID:23457-1772971200-1772985600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Celebrate Women in Space and their Contributions to Space Exploration\, Travel\, and Science DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/celebrate-women-in-space-at-the-nm-museum-of-space-history/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Women-in-Space.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260312T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260312T203000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260225T154722Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T154755Z UID:23496-1773342000-1773347400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-historys-astronomy-league-monthly-meeting-2026-03/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events,Nighttime Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Meeting_2026.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260314T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260314T220000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260225T152727Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T153713Z UID:23492-1773514800-1773525600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/astronomy-league-and-museum-host-public-star-party/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Nighttime Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Star-Party_2026.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260326T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260326T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260317T203545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T223809Z UID:23669-1774522800-1774533600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Honoring the Legacy of the “Red Tails” at New Mexico Museum of Space History on March 26 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/honoring-the-legacy-of-the-red-tails-at-new-mexico-museum-of-space-history/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FB_Event_Tuskegee-Airmen-Day_generic-new.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260328T110000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260328T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260317T201624Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T155848Z UID:23663-1774695600-1774706400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Lift Off with Aerodynamics and Kites at the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Science Saturday DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/lift-off-with-aerodynamics-and-kites-at-the-new-mexico-museum-of-space-historys-science-saturday/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FB_Event_Science-Saturday_generic2.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260403T090000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260403T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260318T195936Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260320T210813Z UID:23710-1775206800-1775210400@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Eye in space: Launch Pad Lecture looks at the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy at New Mexico Museum of Space History on April 3 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-history-launch-pad-lecture-hubble-space-telescope/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FB_Event_LaunchPad-Lecture_2026-Red.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260409T190000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260409T203000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260401T194638Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T195449Z UID:23731-1775761200-1775766600@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/new-mexico-museum-of-space-historys-astronomy-league-monthly-meeting-2026-04/ LOCATION:Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Events,Nighttime Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Meeting_2026.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260411T200000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260411T220000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260401T200748Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T200748Z UID:23733-1775937600-1775944800@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
 DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/astronomy-league-and-museum-host-public-star-party-2026-04/ LOCATION:New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Rd. 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Nighttime Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FB_Event_Astronomy-League-Star-Party_2026.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260412T143000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260412T170000 DTSTAMP:20260415T200720 CREATED:20260406T223347Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260406T223347Z UID:23758-1776004200-1776013200@nmspacemuseum.org SUMMARY:Ancient Skies\, Modern Eyes: Museum of Space History and Jornada Research Institute Present Free Archaeoastronomy Program on Creekside Village Great Kiva DESCRIPTION:Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures\n \n \n \n \n \n Alamogordo\, NM — America’s Astro-chimp\, HAM\, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday\, on January 31\, 2026\, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH)\, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.\n\nHAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5\, 1961\, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.\n\nTo commemorate the accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.\n\nThe name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical\, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr.\, who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.\n\nHAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads\, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”\nThe New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.\n\n\n\n\nMore HAM Day 2026 Details:\nWHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31\, 1961\, paving the way for the US Space program. \nWHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment\, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space. \nWHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. \nWHEN: Saturday\, January 31\, 2026\, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. \nWHO: Everyone’s invited\, after a short\, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine\, museum educators will lead hands-on\, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event\, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat\, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff. \nScience Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information\, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/. \n \n \n \n \n HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA. URL:https://nmspacemuseum.org/event/ancient-skies-modern-eyes-museum-of-space-history-and-jornada-research-institute-present-free-archaeoastronomy-program-on-creekside-village-great-kiva/ LOCATION:New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium\, 3198 State Route 2001\, Alamogordo\, NM\, 88310\, United States CATEGORIES:Special Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://nmspacemuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FB_Event_Ancient-Skies-Modern-Eyes-2026.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="NM Museum of Space History":MAILTO:msh.info@state.nm.us END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR