Which dogs were the first to go into space and return? - briefly
The first dogs to go into space and return safely were the Soviet space dogs Belka and Strelka in 1960. They completed a successful mission aboard Sputnik 5, paving the way for future space exploration with animals.
Which dogs were the first to go into space and return? - in detail
The first dogs to venture into space and successfully return were Laika, Belka, and Strelka.
Laika, a mixed-breed dog, was launched aboard Sputnik 2 by the Soviet Union on November 3, 1957. Although Laika's mission marked a significant milestone in space exploration, it was not designed for her survival; she sadly perished due to overheating during the flight.
Belka and Strelka, two female strays adopted by the Soviet space program, made history on August 19, 1960. They were launched aboard Sputnik 5 (also known as Korabl-Sputnik 2) and completed a successful orbit around Earth, returning safely after a day in space. This mission was a crucial step in demonstrating that living organisms could survive the rigors of space travel, paving the way for future human spaceflight.
Belka and Strelka became national heroes upon their return, with streets named after them and even a monument erected in their honor. Their successful mission provided valuable data on the effects of weightlessness and radiation on living organisms, contributing significantly to the advancement of space medicine.