Animals in space On 18 October 1963, France launched Félicette the cat aboard Veronique AGI sounding rocket No. 47. The launch was directed by the French Centre d'Enseignement et de Recherches de Médecine Aéronautique (CERMA). Félicette was recovered alive after a 15-minute flight and a descent by parachute. Félicette had electrodes implanted into her brain, and the recorded neural impulses were transmitted back to Earth. A second cat was sent to space by CERMA on 24 October 1963, but the flight ran into difficulties that prevented recovery. The final French animal launches were of two monkeys in March 1967. China launched mice and
Miss Earth DR Congo the world finals.<ref name="tnp.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,168817,00.html"></ref><ref name="spicezee.com/missuniverse08/article5354.htm"></ref><ref name="grandslampageants.com/directory.php"></ref> The reigning titleholders dedicate their year to promote environmental projects and to address issues concerning the environment.<ref name="tribuneindia.com/2004/20041008/world.htm"></ref> The first year Brazzaville Congo sent a representative to Miss Earth was in 2008. She goes on to compete at the pageant in the Philippines without a separate national competition and the Miss Earth franchise was obtained then by "Beauties of Africa Inc.", owned by Mr. Andy A. Abulime. In 2015, a delegate has attended the annual Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines. This in celebration of the return of "Miss Earth Congo" to Miss Earth,