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Man's trips to both the moon and the International Space Station are now common knowledge. But lesser known trips involve man's best friend, entering the atmosphere on rockets launched from Russia. But beyond man and dog, several other animals have also made the journey into space aboard rocket ships. These include mice, turtles, frogs, spiders, monkeys, and even squid. These animal explorers were a part of the bioastronautics field, an area of bioengineering research that spans the study and support of life in outer space.

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The first animal travelled into space back in 1947. But since then, multiple countries around the world have launched animals into the atmosphere including the Soviet Union, United States, France, Argentina, China, Japan and Iran. Animal astronauts have continued into the modern era as well. In June of 2021, SpaceX chose to launch a series of tardigrades, or water bears, along with 128 baby glow-in-the-dark bobtail squid to the International Space Station. The experiments solidify the reputation of the International Space Station as an orbiting laboratory, observing the animals and their effects in orbit. But beyond international experiments, some of these animals have been given names, demonstrated unique personalities, and showcased that it isn't just humans who can be amazed and awed by the breathtaking views of being in space. Here are a selection of animals who have been sent out to space, some have returned, while others gave their lives for the research, and for the experience.

Laika

The first animal to ever launch into orbit was a dog named Laika. Launched from the Soviet Union via the Sputnik 2 spacecraft, Laika was a stray mongrel from the streets of Moscow who demonstrated new knowledge on living creatures who entered orbit. Laika died within hours from overheating but, her legacy led to Yuri Gagarian's successful space flight, who became the first human in space. Laika was immortalized through a monument unveiled in Moscow in 2008 as well serving as the inspiration behind the Stop Motion studio run by Travis Knight of the same name.

Albert I and Albet II

Albert I was a rhesus monkey who was launched into space by the United States. Unfortunately, his launch on the V2 rocket failed during its ascent. Albert II, also a rhesus monkey, was then pub on another V2 rocket. This time, Albert II not only made it past lift off, but 83 miles into space. Albert II became the first monkey in space on June 14, 1969. While Albert II survived most of his flight, he died coming back down to Earth due to a malfunctioning parachute.

Able and Baker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSIM7RKn1c

Both Miss Able and Miss Baker became the first monkeys to survive spaceflight after traveling aboard the Jupiter IRBM AM-18. The monkeys travelled 300 miles through an acceleration rate of 38 gs for 16 consecutive minutes. Their flight included 9 minutes of weightlessness. Both Miss Able and Miss Baker were rescued from off the coast of Puerto Rico after their flight and upon return, Miss Baker was honored with an ASPCA award for Distinguished Service, supporting "carefully controlled scientific" use of animals as space pathfinders for the "mutual benefit of man and animals."

Patricia and Mike

Patricia and Mike were two Philippine monkeys who were launched 36 miles into space at a speed of nearly 2,000 mph. The two monkeys were the first primates to reach the high altitude. Patricia and Mike were accompanied on the flight by Mildred and Albert, two white mice. Both monkeys survived the flight, with Patricia dying of natural causes two years after the flight and Mike passing away in 1967 at the National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C.

Nadezhda

Nadezhda was a cockroach that was sent into space by Russian scientists aboard the FotonM-M 3 bio-satellite. After the flight, Nadezhda produced 33 offspring on Earth. The 33 children made history as being the first earthlings to be conceived in conditions of weightlessness. There were little differences between normally conceived cockroaches and the "star children" but the next generation, Nadezhda's grandkids, developed a life cycle similar to most other cockroaches.

Tsygan and Dezik

The first two dogs to make a suborbital spaceflight were Dezik and Tsygan in July of 1951. Both dogs were recovered after traveling to an altitude of 110 km. Dezik went on to make another sub-orbital space flight in September of 1951 along with another dog named Lisa. Neither survived the mission. Tsygan went on to be adopted by Soviet physicist Anatoli Blagonravov.

Felicette

Felicette made history becoming the only cat to successfully launch into space. Her mission took place in October of 1963 as part of the French space program. Felicette survived her flight which consisted of 13 minutes of space travel. She has since been immortalized in France through postage stamps and with a statue at the International Space University.

Belka and Strelk

Belka and Strelka went into orbit in August of 1960 via the Soviet-launched Sputnik 5. Aboard the flight were also a rabbit, 40 mice, and several flies and plants. The two dogs returned to Earth safely, and the legacy didn't end there. Strelka gave birth to a puppy named Pushinka who was gifted to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka lived in the White House and went on to have four puppies of her own. Both Belka and Strelka were preserved after their death, and they remain on display at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonauts in Moscow.

Arabella and Anita

Two common house spiders, known as Cross of European garden spiders named Anita and Arabella went to space in July of 1973. After eight days of being in space, Arabella emerged from her capsule. The following day, she had made a simple web and another three days out, she made a complete web. By the time the spiders returned on September 25, 1973, they were found dead due to lack of moisture.

Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum, and Phooey

This collection of five mice travelled to the moon in 1972 aboard the Apollo 17 million. The mice circled the moon 75 times along with their fellow crew members: Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, and Ronald Evans. Only one of the male mice died during the trip, while the others were taken back to Earth. The mice and their human co-pilots became the last Earthlings to travel and orbit the moon. The crew also holds the record for the longest amount of time spent in lunar orbit, and the most lunar orbits travelled.

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Sources:

CNN, NASA, DogingtonPost, OuterSpaceUniverse, ThoughtCo, Nordic4dFrame, MonkeyInSpace, APNews, TheSun, Time, AirandSpace, RT, WorldHistoryProject, HowStuffWorks