10 Animals That Went to Space

Here you meet 10 animals that went to space. Since the 1950s, both the Russians and Americans (NASA) sent many animals in space to investigate the effect of high temperatures and rapid pressure changes. After 1961 many animals have made a space trip. Fortunately, most of these hairy astronauts landed safely on their four (or eight) legs. 1. Laika (dog) in 1957 Laika began her life as a stray dog, but eventually became the first animal to complete space journey around the world. Laika, presumably a mix between a husky and a terrier, died of high temperatures and stress. It is not mention as a first animal in space because, in 1947, some fruit flies already went to space. 2. Gordo (Monkey) in 1958 About a year after Laika’s space trip, the Americans sent Gordo’s Monkey into space. The NASA was very curious how Gordo would respond to high temperatures and weightlessness. Dressed in a custom-made space suit, the monkey succeeded in launching the rocket successfully. The landing went wrong. Due to a technical er