8 Animals That Travelled to Space Before Humans Did

Ham the Chimpanzee: Ham, the first chimpanzee to be trained for space, flew on the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission in 1961. His successful mission helped test astronaut training and spacecraft systems. (Image: NASA)

Belka and Strelka: In 1960, Soviet space dogs Belka and Strelka orbited Earth and safely returned. They were the first animals to survive a space mission and return alive! (Image: @EmbassyofRussia/X)

Laika the Dog: Laika, a Soviet space dog, became the first animal to orbit Earth in 1957. Her mission aboard Sputnik 2 marked a crucial step in space travel. (Image: @historyinmemes/X)

Albert II the Monkey: In 1959, Albert II, a rhesus monkey, became the first primate in space. His flight aboard a US V-2 rocket was a milestone in understanding space’s effects on living beings. (Image: @facts_matter3/X)

Félicette the Cat: Félicette, the first and only cat in space, was launched by France in 1963. Her journey helped scientists study the effects of space on biological systems. (@emilyyyhu/X)

Squirrel monkey, Miss Baker: In 1959, space pioneer Miss Baker, a squirrel monkey, journeyed aboard a Jupiter IRBM rocket. (@hombreingles/X)

Tortoises: In 1968, Soviet tortoises aboard Zond 5 orbited the Moon with worms and soil. After six days, they crash-landed in the Indian Ocean but survived. (Image: NASA)

Tardigrades: Tardigrades, tiny and resilient creatures, were sent to space in 2007. They survived extreme conditions, showcasing their remarkable adaptability. (Image: Canva)