A pithy comic strip about life, love, lust and puthy cats.

Est. 1985

Extra, Extra!

Cats in Space!

By Jimmy Johnson

May 31, 2006

Actually, this is wrong. Félicette, a female cat, was the first feline in space, but I claim partial exoneration, because this ridiculous little bit of history has many versions, and they have evolved almost to this day. The best story was that the cat originally tapped for the mission was a tom named Felix, but the day of the launch, he escaped, and Félicette was a substitute. Alas, this information has been debunked by one who was there. In a 2014 interview, a French scientist claimed he had no idea where the tale of the non-existent Felix originated. And that part about the only “successful” cat in space? Alors, that part is true. The French launched a second cat into sub-orbital space a few months after the first mission. The rocket malfunctioned, and the astrocat with no name did not survive. In fact, the scientists did not name the cats involved, for understandable reasons. Probably the name “Félicette” was bestowed by the press. Don’t be too hard on the French. In that era, nations were shooting all sorts of animals into space, for research. Now, they simply use humans. At least the humans have a choice.

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11 responses to “Cats in Space!”

  1. Chris Dunford Avatar
    Chris Dunford

    Just wanted to say that you did a great job drawing the expression on Luddy’s face in today’s 1/4/19 daily strip. It was great.

  2. emb Avatar
    emb

    Yesterday, in my long post, I wrote “Cindy refers to me as Mara’s biological grandfather.” She didn’t, and that could be misconstrued. Have learned by experience that this can be a bad place to be misunderstood. Cindy actually referred to Mara as my “academic grandchild.” [I’m still glowing.]

    Peace,

  3. curmudgeonly ex-professor Avatar
    curmudgeonly ex-professor

    Glow away, eMb!
    BTW, you might enjoy this exercise if you have never done it [I did it in the mid-1970s]: Try to ascertain your academic genealogy. That is, who directed your doctoral thesis? Then, who directed that person’s doctoral thesis? Keep on going back as far as possible. Some of the information may be easy to find, given the power of computers, but I can state that, when I did my own, the information was hard to locate. If a director did not receive a doctorate, s/he undoubtedly did receive a master’s, so use that master’s director to carry on. I got back to the days before modern chemistry began, early 1800s.

    On today’s Lootvik drawings: I enjoyed the first two panels, but not the last. That last is too “human-ified” for my tastes. Chacun, etc.

  4. Rick in Shermantown, Ohio Avatar
    Rick in Shermantown, Ohio

    Jimmy:

    The first science fiction book that I read was “Space Cat” when I was in the third grade. It started a love of science fiction that has stayed with me ever since.
    I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it is still known: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/848023.Space_Cat

  5. Ghost Avatar
    Ghost

    Analysis: This is a Valid Question

    https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/article/how-did-america-become-nation-slobs?fbclid=IwAR271fwdYqzj4_RqdwMQb7yZdO_dbEUGMfcgD4iS1QZyaSIhe4f6Mpi7YEo

    One differing opinion: I look damn good in my “blue jeans”. Jackie tells me so. 🙂

    1. Ghost Avatar
      Ghost

      Mark in TTown and others: Might want to check out the link in the above web site titled “How Classic Cartoons Created a Culturally Literate Generation”,

      1. Mark in TTown Avatar
        Mark in TTown

        Thanks, Ghost. I had seen that one on Facebook, and watched the Tom and Jerry cartoon it contains too.

    2. Jackie Avatar
      Jackie

      Ghost looks very well dressed and “natty” as we once said about men, no matter the occasion or attire. Since I am a woman that this matters to this is important. I cannot bear men who aren’t “sharp dressed men.”

      In his his casual somewhat military attire he looks like an older policeman. In jeans and boots he looks more western than a real one. In slacks, tie and blazer he looks rather collegiate. Dark suit and you think doctor, lawyer, banker. Always impeccable.

      Clothes do make the man. My nudist friends call those who wear clothes fabric rather than material. They claim clothing disguises not only our body but our souls and character and removing clothing creates equality. That’s a pack of nonsense. I still consider myself naked superior to just as many nude people as clothed.once they open their mouths to exhibit stupidity..

      When I was younger I traveled in dresses, hose and heels or flats. On trains and planes I wore suits, hats, gloves and my purse and heels matched. I still like to wear dresses and dress elegantly. Just can’t wear heels which ruins effect.

      My mama, aunt and I even in slacks and tops were inevitably the best dressed women as we traveled. I make it a point to compliment all men and women I encounter who are well dressed to thank them for doing so.

      Dressing well to me indicates that you respect yourself and take pride,, that you respect the event or occasion and that you respect me by caring for how you look.