---
title: "When were animals sent up in space?"  
description: "When were animals sent up in space?"  
author: "Steilla Mitchel"  
published: 2022-05-26  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97667/when-were-animals-sent-up-in-space  
category: "troubleshooting"  
tags: ["troubleshooting", "space science"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# When were animals sent up in space?

When were animals sent up in [space](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/341629/the-role-of-private-companies-in-the-future-of-space-exploration)?

## Answers

### Answer by Hitesh Vohra

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Soviet Union and the United States launched various animal species into space, including **monkeys, mice, and dogs**. However, these were suborbital flights, which meant that the spacecraft flew into outer space before returning to Earth without completing an orbit. On 3 November 1957, the dog Laika became the first animal to travel in orbit around the Earth on the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2. Since the 1940s, ants, cats, frogs, and even jellyfish have been flown into space, in addition to fruit flies and Laika. Albert II became the first monkey in space on June 4, 1949, but he died on reentry when the parachute of his capsule failed. Albert III and IV, two other monkeys, were also killed when their rockets failed. On 15 August 1950, a mouse was launched into space but did not survive the return journey. \
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**Read More: [What are the top NFTs?](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97616/what-are-the-top-nfts)** \


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Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97667/when-were-animals-sent-up-in-space

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