You Know Animals Are Awesome, But Animal Astronauts Are Out Of This World.
We’ve all heard stories of animal heroes, but what about animals that were true pioneers? Did you know that the first astronauts were actually cuddly little animals? It’s true! Scientists were afraid of the effects of space travel would be hazardous to humans, so they sent animals up instead. Here are some of the brave animals who made giant leaps for humankind.
Unfortunately, the majority of the animals sent into space didn’t have a safe journey back home. RIP brave animal astronauts!
This weird obsession with lobbing animals at the sky started in 1783 when the Montgolfier Brothers invented the hot air balloon.
The first living creatures to actually enter outer space were two fruit flies in 1947.
In 1949 Albert I the rhesus monkey became the first mammal to leave the planet.
It was actually Albert II, another rhesus monkey who passed the Karmin line, which is the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space.
The first monkey to survive the trip to space was named Yorick.
Laika the terrier-husky mix, seen here at the controls of her vessel, became the first animal to orbit the Earth in 1957.
In 1959 the Soviets launched to more dogs up into space, along with a rabbit named Marfusha, because I guess why not?
Ham the chimpanzee made a historic flight in 1961.
The French feline, Felicette was the first cat to reach space in 1963.
In 1968 the Soviets shot a couple of turtles around the moon.
Thanks animals! Your contributions to science will not be forgotten. You are the true guardians of the galaxy.
Read more: http://viralnova.com/animal-astronauts/
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