Animal Astronaut. Minnie was the only female chimp trained for the Mercury Project in the early 1960s, but she never flew.  After her role in the Mercury program ended, Minnie became part of an Air Force chimp breeding program, producing nine offspring and helping raise the offspring of several other members of the chimp colony. She was the last surviving astro-chimp. She died at the age of 41. (bio by: Shock) Cause of death: Old age