What was the first animal in space?
The first animals in space were fruit flies, launched by the United States on a captured German V-2 rocket in 1947. Laika, a Soviet dog, became the first animal to orbit Earth in 1957.
On February 20, 1947, US scientists sent fruit flies about 109 kilometers high to study the effects of radiation at high altitude. The flies were recovered alive after their capsule parachuted back to Earth. Fruit flies were chosen because their genetics are similar to humans in some ways and are well studied.
In 1949, a rhesus monkey named Albert II became the first primate and first mammal in space, though he died on landing. On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Laika aboard Sputnik 2. She became the first animal to orbit Earth but died within hours from overheating, as there was no plan to bring her back.
Safe returns
In August 1960, Soviet dogs Belka and Strelka orbited Earth and returned safely, along with mice, rats and plants. Their success helped prepare for Yuri Gagarin's flight in 1961. In 1961, a chimpanzee named Ham flew for NASA, paving the way for American astronauts.
Did You Know?
A monument to Laika stands in Moscow, and she is remembered as a symbol of the early space age and its sacrifices.