Famous Astronaut Dog Names

In August of 1960, two dogs the size of Beagles did something that no humans had ever done before — they entered space, and better yet, returned home safely. Unfortunately, their predecessor, Laika, also dubbed Muttnik, the first dog in orbit, did not fare so well after being launched with Russia’s Sputnik in 1957 but the trio still hold historic relevance and for good reason.

The importance of both flights was never under-appreciated. Although a senior Soviet scientist later admitted regretting sending Laika based on the fact that they were only able to garner limited information from her flight, the trio primed the Space Race for a new era, one that would see numerous other animals join the effort with much more pertinent results, and more importantly, truly set the basis for the impending reality of human space flight — less than a year later, because of the results of Belka, Strelka, and the Sputnik 5 that they flew in, the Russians sent the first man into space. 

Even though the two dogs returned home safe, there was undoubtedly uncertainty that they would do so even during the flight. Equipped with TV transmissions, Russian space doctors were able to watch and evaluate the pair while in flight — and the early results did not look promising. Between the dogs adjusting to zero gravity and the technology at the time, it seemed as if the dogs were barely moving through most of the trip, leading onlookers to believe that the dogs had not survived the launch. During the fourth orbit, however, Belka finally shuddered and then proceeded to vomit, shaking the dogs out of what seemed to be an intense trance brought on by the conditions. For the remainder of the flight, they were much more active and alert, giving doctors and scientists alike hope that their trip would be truly revolutionary. 

Upon their return, the pair became folk heroes, inspiring cartoons, music and films. Strelka even went on to have puppies, one of which, named Pushinka, was given to Jacqueline Kennedy and had a litter of her own, carrying on her space-dog bloodline even further, the pups of which were eventually given away. Both dogs were preserved after their deaths and are on display in Moscow’s Museum of Cosmonauts. 

But Belka and Strelka weren’t even the last dog’s into space before humans were brave and knowledgeable enough to follow suit. Dogs Pchyolka and Mushka also spent a day in space just a few months later in December. Chernushka did the same in early March, closely followed by Zvyozdochka, who made one orbit on March 25, 1961, shortly before Yuri Gagarin’s historic first flight on April 12. 

Above all else, Belka and Strelka set a significant precedent, even if they weren’t willing volunteers, and took the dream of space flight and made it reality.