Timeline: The First 10 Animals to be Sent to Space

Feb 20, 1947

1. Fruit Flies

The first animal to go to space were fruit flies on February 20, 1947. The U.S. put them in German V2 rockets to study radiation. Huh, fruit flies? I would have never guessed that they sent fruit flies to space. I always thought that the first were monkeys.

Jun 14, 1949

2. Albert 2 the monkey

Albert 2, a monkey was sent to space on June 14, 1949. He was the first mammal to go to space. Wohoo for accomplishments! The reason he is called Albert 2 is because Albert 1 died during lift off.

Jul 22, 1951

3. Tsygan and Dezik

Tsygan and Dezik, were aboard the R-1 IIIA-1 and arrived to space on July 22, 1951. They were both the first dogs to go to space.

Nov 3, 1957

4. Laika the dog

Laika the dog, was sent on the aircraft, Sputnik 2. She arrived to space on November 3, 1957.

Dec 13, 1957

5. Gordo the squirrel monkey

Gordo, a squirrel monkey, launched 600 miles high to reach space on December 13, 1957.

May 28, 1959

6. Able and Baker

Able, a Rhesus monkey, and Baker, a squirrel monkey, were launched together on May 28, 1959.

Aug 19, 1960

7. Belka and Strelka (Also a rabbit, 42 mice and fruiflies)

After Laika, the Soviet Union sent two more dogs, Belka and Strelka, into space on August 19, 1960. Not only were there 2 dogs but they also sent a grey rabbit, 42 MICE, and many fruit flies.

Jan 31, 1961

8. Ham the chimp

Ham, a chimpanzee, was trained to perform tasks during spaceflight. He would pull levers to get banana pellets (to eat). He went to space on January 31, 1961.

Oct 18, 1963

9. Felix the Cat

On October 18, 1963, the first cat was sent to space! You wanna know what the cat's name was? Well, it's name is Felix!

Feb 22, 1966

10. Veterok and Ugolyok

These 2 handsome little dogs went to space on February 22, 1966. They orbited for a record-breaking 22 days. Humans did not pass this record until 1974. Which is really cool!

Jun 9, 1966