The first computer went into space on March 25, 1965, according to this PragPub article by Dan Wohlbruck: http://www.pragprog.com/magazines/2010-08/when-did-that-happen
It took 12 more years to launch Pigs in Space: http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Pigs_in_Space
Only history can judge which was the greater accomplishment.