SPACE PIONEERS

Long before the historic moment of humans setting foot on the moon, numerous animals played a crucial role in space exploration, helping advance astronautical research in the years that followed.

Here Are 5 Animals That Have Been to Space:

After the tragic fate of a rhesus macaque named Albert II and his predecessor, Albert I, NASA launched Ham, a chimpanzee, who safely returned to Earth and lived until 1983. 

The first mouse was sent to space in 1950, reaching an altitude of 137. However, this mouse did not return safely, as the rocket disintegrated due to a parachute failure.

The former Soviet Union sent several dogs into space, but the most famous among them was Laika in 1957. The dog made history as the first animal to orbit the Earth. Tragically, she could not safely return to Earth. 

In 1968, the Soviet Union launched the Zond 5 spacecraft aboard soil and seed samples, worms, and two steppe tortoises. After successfully orbiting the moon, they returned to Earth but lost about 10% of their body weight.

In 2007, tardigrades spent 10 days orbiting Earth outside a rocket. After returning, scientists rehydrated them and found that 68% of them survived intense cold and cosmic radiation.