Unseen Heroes: Exploring Animals that Pioneered Space Travel

Before humans could even fathom venturing beyond our sphere, a brave assembly of animals journeyed into space, testing the unknown for the future of mankind. From fruit flies to primates, we delve deep into the fascinating history of these interstellar adventurers.

The First Travellers: Fruit Flies aboard V2 Rockets

Believe it or not, fruit flies were actually the first living organisms to touch extraterrestrial space in 1947. Sent 109 kilometers above Earth on a US V2 rocket, these tiny astronauts were chosen primarily for their shared genetic traits with humans.

• Why flies though? Fruit flies are easier to maintain, reproduce quickly, and most importantly, over three-quarters of known human disease genes have a recognizable match in the genetic code of fruit flies.

Beyond Flies: The Mice, Frogs & Spiders Outreach

Scientists broadened their spacebound menagerie after fruit flies. Mice, frogs, and spiders graced the stars as a part of various missions. The efforts helped scientists understand the effects of microgravity on the growth and development of various organisms.

• For instance, Arabella and Anita, the golden orb spiders sent to space, adapted to microgravity and spun surprisingly regular webs.

Observing Primate Behaviour in Space

The space journey of primates soon followed. Albert I, a rhesus monkey, became the first primate astronaut in 1948 aboard a V2 rocket. Unfortunately, Albert I didn’t survive, but his contribution offered substantial knowledge about the effects of high-altitude travel on mammals.

• Samuel and Miss Sam, rhesus monkeys, successfully returned after their brief 15-minute suborbital trip. This led the path for the safe passage of human astronauts.

The Pioneering Pup: Laika

Perhaps one of the most famous animal astronauts was Laika, the stray dog from Moscow. Laika became the first mammal to orbit the Earth on the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 in 1957. Her sacrifice provided valuable insight into the physiological and psychological stresses of space flight, preparing mankind for a safe journey.

Birds Eye View: Belka and Strelka

Feathers also fluttered in microgravity. Two pigeons, alongside 40 mice, 2 rats, and a dog named Zvezdochka made it to orbit aboard Russian missions. The most famous flight being Sputnik 5, with dogs Belka and Strelka, returned safely and lived to see old age on Earth.

The Heroic Tortoises Around the Moon

Mankind’s lunar ambitions led to a unique mission with a tortoise crew. The tortoises ventured around the Moon on Zond 5 in 1968. They returned safely, losing only 10% of their body weight and seemingly unphased by their journey.

The unsung bravery and inevitable sacrifices of these animal astronauts laid a formative ground for human space exploration. Their contributions will forever be embedded in the annals of space travel. When we look up into the spot-lit night sky, spare a thought for these true pioneers of the cosmos.

Now, let’s anticipate some frequently asked questions.

Did any animal astronauts survive their space journey?

Many did. Mice, spiders, and particularly the tortoises and Belka and Strelka, the dogs, returned safely to Earth and lived out their lives.

What species were the most common animals in space?

Fruit flies and mice were frequently sent due to their biological similarities to humans and quick reproduction. Dogs, particularly by the Soviet Union, and monkeys, favored by the United States, were commonly used.

Why were animals sent to space before humans?

Animals were sent to space to test the safety and feasibility of launching a living organism into space and bringing it back unharmed. This provided crucial data for human space exploration.

Article updated at Tuesday, October 8, 2024