What were the names of the dogs before Belka and Strelka?

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What were the names of the dogs before Belka and Strelka? - briefly
The dogs that preceded Belka and Strelka in the Soviet space program were named Dezik and Tsygan. These canines were part of earlier missions that laid the groundwork for the historic flight of Belka and Strelka.

What were the names of the dogs before Belka and Strelka? - in detail
Belka and Strelka are among the most famous dogs in space exploration history, having been part of the Soviet space program in the 1960s. Their mission, Sputnik 5, was a significant milestone in the space race, as it demonstrated the viability of human spaceflight by successfully returning live animals from orbit. However, before Belka and Strelka, there were several other dogs that contributed to the Soviet space program, paving the way for their historic flight.
The Soviet space program began using dogs for spaceflight experiments in the 1950s. The first dog to be launched into space was Dezik, who flew aboard the R-1 IIIA-1 rocket on July 22, 1951. Unfortunately, the mission failed, and Dezik did not survive. The second attempt involved a dog named Tsygan, who flew aboard the R-1 IIIA-2 rocket on July 29, 1951. Like Dezik, Tsygan did not survive the mission.
Following these initial attempts, the Soviet program continued to use dogs for high-altitude and suborbital flights to gather data on the effects of space travel on living organisms. Some of the notable dogs that participated in these early missions include:

Lisichka: Flew on a suborbital mission aboard the R-1 IIIA-3 rocket on August 21, 1951. The mission was successful, and Lisichka survived the flight.
Dyadya (Uncle): Flew on a suborbital mission aboard the R-1 IIIA-4 rocket on August 22, 1951. The mission was successful, and Dyadya survived the flight.
Malyshka: Flew on a suborbital mission aboard the R-1 IIIA-5 rocket on September 2, 1951. The mission was successful, and Malyshka survived the flight.

These early missions were crucial for the Soviet space program, as they provided valuable data on the effects of space travel on living organisms. The success of these missions laid the groundwork for the orbital flight of Belka and Strelka in 1960, which was a significant step towards human spaceflight. The legacy of these early canine astronauts is an essential part of space exploration history, highlighting the contributions of animals to scientific research and technological advancements.