-
Use Cases
-
Resources
-
Pricing
Animals in Space Timeline
(1947 - Present)Animals in Space covers the pioneering use of living creatures to test the safety and feasibility of spaceflight before human missions. Beginning with fruit flies in 1947 and including famous animals like Laika the dog, Albert II the rhesus monkey, and Belka and Strelka, these missions provided critical data on radiation, weightlessness, and survival in orbit, paving the way for human space exploration. More Less
Early Balloon and Rocket Experiments
Montgolfier brothers send animals aloft in a hot air balloon
Sep 19, 1783
The Montgolfier brothers sent a sheep, a duck, and a rooster aloft in a hot air balloon to test whether ground-dwelling animals could survive flight, with the duck serving as the experimental control. This marked the first use of animals in aeronautic exploration.
Image source: Montgolfier brothers
Claude Ruggieri launches animals with rockets
Jan 1, 1806
In the early 19th century, French pyrotechnician Claude Ruggieri launched animals with rockets, pioneering the idea of rocket-borne animal flights long before the space age.
Image source: Claude Ruggieri
American Missions
High-altitude balloon animal flights begin
Jan 1, 1947 - Dec 31, 1960
From 1947 to 1960, high-altitude balloon flights tested radiation exposure, physiological response, life support and recovery systems using various animals, laying groundwork for human spaceflight.
Fruit flies become first animals in space aboard a V-2 rocket
Feb 20, 1947
The US launched the first living beings into space when fruit flies flew aboard a U.S.-launched V-2 rocket from White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The flies were recovered alive after surviving the sub-orbital flight.
Albert II becomes first monkey and mammal in space
Jun 14, 1949
Albert II, a rhesus monkey, became the first monkey, first primate, and first mammal in space on a U.S.-launched V-2 rocket, following the failure of the original Albert's mission on ascent.
Image source: Albert II (monkey)
US launches mice on Aerobee rocket
Aug 31, 1950
On 31 August 1950, the U.S. launched mice aboard an Aerobee rocket, continuing its program of testing biological payloads in sub-orbital spaceflight.
Image source: Animals in space
Monkey Gordo launched on Jupiter IRBM AM-13
Dec 13, 1958
A Jupiter IRBM, AM-13, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with a United States Navy-trained South American squirrel monkey named Gordo on board. The nose cone sank at sea and Gordo was lost despite surviving the flight.
Image source: Gordo (monkey)
Able and Baker become first monkeys to survive spaceflight
May 28, 1959
On 28 May 1959, aboard Jupiter IRBM AM-18, rhesus monkey Able from Independence, Kansas, and squirrel monkey Baker from Peru became the first monkeys to survive spaceflight. Baker lived until 29 November 1984 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Image source: Operation Crossroads
Jupiter AM-23 launch with frogs and mice destroyed
Sep 19, 1959
A Jupiter AM-23 launch carried two frogs and 12 mice, but the rocket was destroyed during launch, killing all the animals aboard.
Rhesus macaque Sam flies on Little Joe 2
Dec 4, 1959
A rhesus macaque named Sam flew on the Little Joe 2 mission of Project Mercury to an altitude of 85 km (53 mi), testing life support systems for future human astronauts.
Image source: Little Joe 2
Key Facts
- In 1947, fruit flies launched aboard a V-2 rocket became the first animals sent into space to study radiation exposure.
- Laika, a Soviet stray dog, became the first animal to orbit Earth aboard Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957, though she did not survive the mission.
- Albert II, a rhesus monkey, became the first mammal in space in 1949 but died on impact due to parachute failure.
- In 1960, Soviet dogs Belka and Strelka became the first animals to orbit Earth and return safely, proving survival in space was possible.
- NASA has continued sending animals such as mice, fish, spiders, and tardigrades into space to study long-term effects of microgravity and radiation on biology.
Source
This Animals in Space timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
Want a timeline like this one?
Generate yours with AI or build it from scratch, for free.