Another significant V-2 series, Project Blossom, represented the first Air Force experience
with large rockets. Blossom was initiated in 1946 as an extension to the five V-2's originally
allocated for upper atmospheric research to the Air Force Materiel Command at Wright
Field, Ohio. The Blossom research group, under the tutelage of Marcus O'Day at the Air
Force Cambridge Research Center, planned to study ionospheric conditions and to develop
a parachute recovery system for a special ejectable instrument container. Blossom I (V-2
number 20) achieved what turned out to be the only successful recovery in the program
when a small container of fruit flies parachuted safely to Earth from an altitude of 109 km.
    The Blossom III package (V-2 Number 37) incorporated a sub-scale nose section of
the planned X-2 rocket plane which carried a tiny rhesus monkey names Albert I. The
monkey was to be ejected from the nose section as a test of the supersonic pilot escape
system of the X-2 but the V-2 did not reach a high enough altitude and the recovery system
did not function. Later Blossom flights carried additional 'Albert' monkeys for research into
the physiological effects of space flight on primates.
    After Blossom III, the Cambridge Research Center decided to enlarge the Blossom nose
cone and lengthen the V-2 fuselage by one caliber, 32.33". Seven improved payloads were
eventually flown, designated Blossom IV-A through IV-G, but unfortunately none of the
recovery attempts were successful. A total of eleven Blossom payloads were launched
during the program.

The above information was provided by Joel W. Powell and Keith J. Scala from a joint
paper on the "Historic White Sands Missile Range."

V-2 number 37 (6-11-48)
    The bio-payload was a nine-pound anaesthetized rhesus monkey named Albert, (Albert  I).
    By all accounts he was the first animal astronaut. Albert did not survive the fight and is
    believed to have died due to breathing difficulties in the cramped capsule. The apparatus
    for transmitting repiratory movements failed even before time of launch. The parachute
    recovery system that was devised to lower the nose cone with Albert also failed to
    function properly.
V-2 number 45 (1-28-49)
    The bio-payload was another rhesus monkey, Albert II. The capsule was redesigned so
    that it would be less cramped and the instrumentation and parachute recovery system
    was improved. From respiratory and cardiological data recorded it is known that the
    monkey (Albert II) did survive the flight but not impact. The improved parachute system
    was not much improved.
V-2 number 32 (9-16-49)
    The bio-payload was yet another rhesus monkey, Albert III. This flight was a failure due
    to the rocket exploding.
V-2 number 31 (12-8-49)
    The bio-payload was another rhesus monkey, Albert IV. This flight, like that of number
    45 successfully recorded the data of the primate throughout the entire flight but another
    failed parachute ultimately caused the death of the monkey.
V-2 number 51 (8-31-50)
    The bio-payload was an unanesthetized mouse which was photographed in flight and
    did survive impact. The purpose of this flight was to record the conscious reactions
    of an animal to changing gravity conditions.