During the 1950s and 1960s the USSR used a number of dogs for sub-orbital and orbital space flights to determine whether human spaceflight was feasible. In the 1950s and 60s, the Soviet Union launched missions with passenger slots for at least 57 dogs. The actual number of dogs in space is smaller, as some dogs flew more than once. Most survived; the few that died were lost mostly through technical failures. Belka and Strelka, part of the Russian Space Agency. ... Crew None Mission Parameters Mass: 4,600 kg Perigee: 287 km Apogee: 324 km Inclination: 64. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... A sub-orbital spaceflight (or sub-orbital flight) is a spaceflight that does not involve putting a vehicle into orbit. ... An orbital spaceflight (or orbital flight) in the general sense is a spaceflight where the trajectory of a spacecraft reaches the height of, and through having an appropriate velocity enters into, orbit around an astronomical body. ...

Training

Dogs were the preferred animal for the experiments because scientists felt that dogs were better suited to endure long periods of inactivity. As part of their training, they were confined in small boxes for 15-20 days at a time. Stray dogs, rather than animals accustomed to living in a house, were chosen because the scientists felt they would be able to tolerate the rigours and extreme stresses of space flight better than other dogs. Female dogs were used because of their temperament and the fact that they did not need to lift a leg to urinate.^[1]

Their training included standing still for long periods of time, wearing space suits, being placed in simulators that acted like a rocket during launch, riding in centrifuges that simulated the high acceleration of a rocket launch and being kept in progressively smaller cages to prepare them for the confines of the space capsules. Dogs that flew in orbit were fed a nutritious gel.

Sub-orbital flights

Original Russian space dog box used on suborbital and orbital flights

Several dogs made high-altitude flights on R-1 series geophysical rockets between 1951 and 1952. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (637x800, 188 KB) Original russian space dog box used on suborbital and orbital flights photo taken and edited by de:Benutzer:HPH on Russia in Space exhibition (Airport of Frankfurt, Germany, 2002) File links The following pages link to this file... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (637x800, 188 KB) Original russian space dog box used on suborbital and orbital flights photo taken and edited by de:Benutzer:HPH on Russia in Space exhibition (Airport of Frankfurt, Germany, 2002) File links The following pages link to this file... The R-1 rocket (NATO reporting name SS-1 Scunner) (and its evolved version R-2 or SS-2 Sibling) was a copy of the German V-2 rocket manufactured by the Soviet Union. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Dezik, Tsygan and K-9

Dezik (Дезик) and Tsygan (Цыган, "Gypsy") were the first dogs to make a sub-orbital flight on July 22, 1951. Both dogs were recovered unharmed after travelling to a maximum altitude of 100 km. Dezik made another flight in September with a dog named K-9, although neither survived. July 22 is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 162 days remaining. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ...

Lisa and Ryjik

Lisa (Лиса, "Fox" or "Vixen") and Ryzhik (Рыжик, "Ginger" (red-haired)) flew to an altitude of 100 km on June 2, 1954. June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Smelaya and Malyshka

Smelaya (Смелая, "Bold" or "Courageous") was due to make a flight in September but ran away the day before the launch. Russian officials feared she had been eaten by wolves, but she was found the next day and went on to make a successful flight with a dog named Malyshka (Малышка, "Little One"). Wolf Wolf Man Mount Wolf Wolf Prizes Wolf Spider Wolf 424 Wolf 359 Wolf Point Wolf-herring Frank Wolf Friedrich Wolf Friedrich August Wolf Hugo Wolf Johannes Wolf Julius Wolf Max Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf Maximilian Wolf Rudolf Wolf Thomas Wolf As Name Wolf Breidenbach Wolf Hirshorn Other The call...

Bolik and ZIB

Bolik (Болик) ran away just days before her flight in September 1951. A replacement named ZIB (allegedly a Russian acronym for "Substitute for Missing Bolik", "Замена исчезнувшему Болику"), who was an untrained street dog found running around barracks was quickly located and made a successful flight.

Otvazhnaya and Snezhinka

Otvazhnaya (Отважная, "Brave One") made a flight on July 2, 1959 along with a rabbit named Marfusha (Марфуша, "Martha") and another dog named Snezhinka (Снежинка, "Snowflake"). She went on to make 5 other flights between 1959 and 1960. July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

Albina and Tsyganka

Albina (Альбина, a real female name) and Tsyganka (Цыганка, "Gypsy girl") were both ejected out of their capsule at an altitude of 85 km and landed safely. Albina was one of the dogs shortlisted for Sputnik 2, but never flew in orbit. Sputnik 2 (Russian: , Satellite 2) was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, on November 3, 1957, and the first to carry a living animal - a dog named Laika. ...

Damka and Krasavka

Damka (Дамка, "Little Lady") and Krasavka (Красавка, "Little Beauty") were both planned to make an orbital flight on December 22, 1960; however, after the upper stage rocket failed, the flight was aborted. Both were recovered successfully after an unplanned sub-orbital flight. Damka was also known as Shutka (Шутка, "Joke") and Zhemchuzhnaya (Жемчужная, "Pearly") and Krasavka was also known as Kometka (Кометка, "Little Comet") and Zhulka (Жулька, "Cheater"). December 22 is the 356th day of the year (357th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

Other dogs that flew on sub-orbital flights include Dymka (Дымка, "Smoky"), Modnitsa (Модница, "Fashionable") and Kozyavka (Козявка, "Little Gnat").

At least four other dogs flew in September 1951, and two or more were lost.

Orbital Flights

Laika

Main article: Laika Laika, in 1957, became the first animal to be launched into orbit, paving the way for human spaceflight. ...

Laika (Лайка, "Barker"), originally named Kudryavka (Кудрявка, "Little Curly"), became the first living Earth-born creature (other than microbes) in orbit aboard Sputnik II on November 3, 1957. Some call her the first living passenger to go into space, but others claim sub-orbital flights passed the edge of space first. She was also known as Zhuchka (Жучка, "Little Beetle") and Limonchik (Лимончик, "Lemon"). The American media dubbed her "Muttnik". She died between five and seven hours into the flight from stress and overheating. Her true cause of death was not made public until October 2002; officials previously gave conflicting reports that she was either euthanized by poisoned food or died when the oxygen supply ran out. The Russian scientist responsible for the project has since expressed regret for allowing Laika to die. Sputnik 2 was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, at 19:12:00 on November 3, 1957, and was the first spacecraft to carry biological material. ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The media of the United States of amrica consist of several different types of communications media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based Web sites. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Oleg Gazenko (b. ...

Bars and Lisichka

Bars (Барс, "Panther" or "Lynx") and Lisichka (Лисичка, "Little Fox") died after their rocket exploded 28.5 seconds into the launch on July 28, 1960. Bars was also known as Chayka ("Gull"). July 28 is the 209th day (210th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 156 days remaining. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

Belka and Strelka

Stuffed Strelka on tour in Australia in 1991

Label of a match box commemorating Belka and Strelka

Belka (Белка, literally, "Squirrel", but as a dog's name most likely means "Whitey", from Russian: "белый" (for "white")) and Strelka (Стрелка, "Little Arrow") spent a day in space aboard Korabl-Sputnik-2 (Sputnik 5) on August 19, 1960 before safely returning to Earth. Image File history File links The preserved body of Strelka on tour in Australia in 1991, next to a typical canine spacesuit. ... Image File history File links The preserved body of Strelka on tour in Australia in 1991, next to a typical canine spacesuit. ... Stamp commemorating Belka and Strelka, who flew in Space in 1960 on board Korabl-Sputnik-2. ... Stamp commemorating Belka and Strelka, who flew in Space in 1960 on board Korabl-Sputnik-2. ... Crew None Mission Parameters Mass: 4,600 kg Perigee: 287 km Apogee: 324 km Inclination: 64. ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

They were accompanied by a grey rabbit, 40 mice, 2 rats, flies and a number of plants and fungi. All passengers survived.

Strelka went on to have six puppies, one of whom was named Pushinka (Пушинка, "Fluffy") and was presented to President John F. Kennedy's daughter Caroline by Nikita Khrushchev. Pushinka's descendants are still living today. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... Caroline Bouvier Kennedy Schlossberg (born November 27, 1957) is the daughter and only surviving child of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline. ... Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (Russian: , Nikita Sergeevič Chruščiov; IPA: , in English, , or , occasionally ); surname more accurately romanized as Khrushchyov; April 17 [O.S. April 5] 1894[1]–September 11, 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. ...

After death, the bodies of both Strelka and Belka were preserved. Belka is on display in Moscow, while Strelka continues to tour the world as part of a travelling exhibition.

Pchelka and Mushka

Image of one of the dogs onboard Sputnik 6, demodulated by CIA electronic intelligence

Pchelka (Пчёлка, "Little Bee") and Mushka (Мушка, "Little Fly") spent a day in orbit on December 1, 1960 on board Korabl-Sputnik-3 (Sputnik 6) with "other animals", plants and insects. Due to a navigation error, their spacecraft disintegrated during re-entry on December 2 and all were killed. Mushka was one of the three dogs trained for Sputnik 2 and was used during ground tests. She did not fly on Sputnik 2 because she refused to eat properly. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Crew None Mission Parameters Mass: 4,563 kg Perigee: 166 km Apogee: 232 km Inclination: 64. ... Atmospheric entry is the transition from the vacuum of space to the atmosphere of any planet or other celestial body. ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Sputnik 2 (Russian: , Satellite 2) was the second spacecraft launched into Earth orbit, on November 3, 1957, and the first to carry a living animal - a dog named Laika. ...

Ugolyok and Veterok in space. 1966 USSR stamp

Image File history File links Veterok_and_Ugolyok_USSR_stamp. ... Image File history File links Veterok_and_Ugolyok_USSR_stamp. ...

Chernushka

Chernushka (Чернушка, "Blackie") made one orbit on board Korabl-Sputnik-4 (Sputnik 9) on March 9, 1961 with a cosmonaut dummy (whom Russian officials nicknamed "Ivan Ivanovich"), mice and a guinea pig. The dummy was ejected out of the capsule during re-entry and made a soft landing using a parachute. Chernushka was recovered unharmed inside the capsule. Crew None Mission Parameters Mass: 4,700 kg Perigee: 173 km Apogee: 239 km Inclination: 64. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (69th in leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Feral mouse A mouse (plural mice) is a rodent that belongs to one of numerous species of small mammals. ... Binomial name Cavia porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) Guinea pigs (also called cavies) are rodents belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia, originally indigenous to the Andes. ...

Zvezdochka

Zvezdochka (Звёздочка, "Little Star"), who was named by Yuri Gagarin, made one orbit on board Sputnik 10 on March 25, 1961 with a wooden cosmonaut dummy in the final practice flight before Gagarin's historic flight on April 12. Again, the dummy was ejected out of the capsule while Zvezdochka remained inside. Both were recovered successfully. Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (Russian: , Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin IPA: ; 9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968), Hero of the Soviet Union, was a Soviet cosmonaut who on 12 April 1961 became the first human in space and the first human to orbit the Earth. ... Crew None Mission Parameters Mass: 4,695 kg Perigee: 164 km Apogee: 230 km Inclination: 64. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). ...

Veterok and Ugolyok

Veterok (Ветерок, "Little Wind/Breeze") and Ugolyok (Уголёк, "Little Piece of Coal") were launched on February 22, 1966 on board Cosmos 110, and spent 22 days in orbit before landing on March 16. This spaceflight of record-breaking duration was not surpassed by humans until Skylab 2 in June 1973 and still stands as the longest space flight by dogs. February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Image:Woschod 1 Montage. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (76th in leap years). ... Skylab 2 or SL-2 was the first human spaceflight mission to Skylab, the first U.S. orbital space station. ...

References

See also

• Animals in space
• Monkeys in space
• Sputnik program
• Voskhod program

Squirrel monkey Baker rode a Jupiter missile (modeled above) into space in 1959 Animals in space originally served to test the survivability of spaceflight before manned space missions were attempted. ... Sam the rhesus monkey flew to an apogee of 88 km in 1959. ... Sputnik 1 USSR postage stamp depicting Sputnik 1 The Sputnik program was a series of unmanned space missions launched by the Soviet Union in the late 1950s to demonstrate the viability of artificial satellites. ... The Voskhod programme (Восход, translated as Sunrise) was a Soviet human spaceflight project. ...

External links

• A book chapter about biological experiments in geophysical rockets (Russian)
• Space Today Online article about animals sent into space
• NASA StarChild article about Belka and Strelka
• "Message from the First Dog in Space Received 45 Years Too Late" 2002 update about the Russian space dog program.