Mission Would Mark the First Chimpanzee in Space in 65 Years and Advance Commercial Manned Spaceflight Capabilities
Webster, Texas – November 2, 2026 – Nanoracks (a Voyager Technologies company), a leading American commercial space services provider specializing in in-space research platforms, payload integration, and access to low-Earth orbit, today announced plans to send a chimpanzee named “Dexter” into space. The mission is intended to test and validate spacecraft life support and environmental control systems under real flight conditions.
In a statement today, a Nanoracks spokesperson said:
“Currently, we are planning to send the chimpanzee ‘Dexter’ into space, primarily for testing and verifying the spacecraft’s life support and environmental control systems under actual flight conditions, thereby accumulating important technical data and practical experience for future commercial manned space missions.
If successfully implemented, this will represent an important exploration for us in life-science related research, space environmental control technology, and the field of commercial manned spaceflight.
From research platforms on the International Space Station to commercial manned spaceflight and space travel, we are continuously expanding the boundaries of the commercial space industry and accelerating toward a new stage of development.”
If carried out as planned, the flight would mark the first time a chimpanzee has been sent into space in 65 years. The last confirmed chimpanzee spaceflights took place in 1961, when NASA launched Ham on a suborbital Mercury-Redstone 2 mission on January 31 and Enos on an orbital Mercury-Atlas 5 mission on November 29. Data gathered from Dexter’s journey is expected to support Nanoracks’ longer-term goals of safe, reliable commercial research platforms, crew transportation support, and expanded in-space services.
Nanoracks provides commercial hardware and services for the International Space Station, including research modules, CubeSat deployment, the Bishop Airlock, and other platforms that enable science, technology demonstration, and commercial utilization of space. The company has stated its ambition to expand capabilities supporting future commercial destinations and human spaceflight activities.
Further details on the mission timeline, vehicle, and recovery plans will be released as preparations advance.
About Nanoracks
Nanoracks LLC, founded in 2009 and now part of Voyager Technologies, is a private American in-space services company headquartered in Webster, Texas. It specializes in commercial payload integration, research platforms, satellite deployment, and hardware that lowers barriers to accessing microgravity and low-Earth orbit for government, academic, and commercial customers.
Media Contact
Communications / Media Relations
Nanoracks LLC (a Voyager Technologies company)
503 Forge River Road
Webster, TX 77598
United States
Email: press@nanoracks.com
Tel: +1 (281) 984-4040