In 1947, fruit flies became the first animals in space aboard a U.S. V-2 rocket. They were sent to study the effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes.
Albert II became the first primate in space in 1949, launched by the U.S. aboard a V-2 rocket. Unfortunately, he did not survive the flight due to a parachute failure.
Laika, a Soviet space dog, became the first animal to orbit Earth aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957. Laika’s mission provided critical data on living conditions in space, though she did not survive the mission.
Mice have been used extensively in space experiments. In 1950, the U.S. sent a mouse aboard a V-2 rocket, making it one of the earliest mammals to travel to space.
In 1961, the Soviet Union sent a guinea pig into space aboard the Korabl-Sputnik 4 (also known as Sputnik 9). This mission was part of a series of tests leading up to human spaceflight.
Ham, a chimpanzee, was the first great ape in space, launched by the U.S. in 1961 aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket. Ham's successful mission paved the way for human spaceflight.
The Soviet Union sent tortoises into space in 1968 aboard the Zond 5 spacecraft. These tortoises orbited the Moon and safely returned to Earth, providing valuable insights into the effects of deep-space travel.