When you think of space travel, you might think of images of rockets, astronauts in cool suits, and the shining stars in our skies, but did you know that before humans strapped themselves into rockets, we sent some unsuspecting animal astronauts into the cosmos? That’s right—before Neil Armstrong took his giant leap for mankind, a bunch of brave critters were already floating around in zero gravity. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous, and some unfortunate, animal astronauts who boldly went where no animal had gone before.
Laika: The Soviet Space Pooch
First up, meet Laika, the most famous space dog in history. In 1957, the Soviet Union decided that man’s best friend should become man’s best astronaut. Laika was a stray dog found wandering the streets of Moscow, she was chosen to be the first living creature to orbit the Earth. She was loaded into Sputnik 2 and blasted off into space. Laika was a true explorer and unfortunately, not under her control, also a one-way traveller. However, her sacrifice paved the way for human space travel, and she remains a cosmic canine hero to this day. Rumour has it, she’s still chasing her tail somewhere in the great beyond.
Félicette: The Feline Cosmonaut
Image Credit: Wikipedia
Next on our list, my favourite as a certified crazy cat lady, is Félicette, the first and only cat to ever go to space. In 1963, the French space program decided it was time to join the space race by sending a cat. Félicette, a black-and-white stray from the streets of Paris, was chosen for the mission, likely due to her ability to land on her feet no matter what, and also her 9 lives. Unlike Laika, Félicette returned to Earth safely, making her a true space survivor. However, her reward was not a bowl of cream; her brain was used for testing a few months after her return to earth. To add insult to injury, the scientists found nothing. Félicette will always be known as the only feline cosmonaut and her purrs are forever part of space history.
Monkeys in Space: The Banana Republic
The United States sent a series of rhesus monkeys into space in the late 1940s and early 1950s. These brave primates had names like Albert I, II, and III—because when you’re the first monkey in space, you don’t get a fancy name, you get a number apparently. The first couple of Alberts…well… it didn’t go to plan, with rockets malfunctioning or parachutes failing. Eventually, Albert VI (yes, they went through A LOT) made it back alive, landing back on Earth September 20th, 1951.
Ham: The Astro-Chimp
Speaking of primates, let’s not forget Ham, the first chimpanzee to ride a rocket. In 1961, the United States decided it was time to up their space game and sent Ham on a 16-minute suborbital flight. Ham was no ordinary chimp, he was trained to pull levers and push buttons. When the rocket blasted off, Ham handled it like a champ, or should we say, like a chimp. He even managed to return to Earth in one piece. After that, he retired to live out his days away from the spotlight, probably sipping on banana smoothies.
Image credit: NASA
Tardigrades: The Indestructible
Image credit: Philippe Garcelon
Now, let’s talk about the real MVPs of space travel—the tardigrades. These microscopic creatures, also known as water bears, were sent into space in 2007. They’re not exactly the cuddliest of animals, but they’re arguably the toughest. Tardigrades can survive extreme temperatures, radiation, and even the vacuum of space. While the rest of us need spacesuits and oxygen, tardigrades just kick back and enjoy the ride.
If there’s ever an intergalactic apocalypse, it will be the Tardigrades’ world and we will just be living in it. These tiny space explorers would more than likely, outlive us all.
So, the next time you gaze up at the stars, take a moment to remember these brave animals who explored before us, whether it’s a dog, a cat, a monkey, or a microscopic bear.