Today, the idea of humans exploring Space is nothing special, but when this idea seemed unfathomable, it was animals that were used to test the safety and side effects of space travel. These animals were used to study how living things were impacted by Space, such as the effect of weightlessness. Though their scientific contributions were monumental, many animals lost their lives during these studies. Both the controversy surrounding sending animals to Space as well as their role in discoveries, without which human space travel may have never occurred, are an essential part of the history of Space exploration.
Whistler Secondary isn't the only place fruit flies have been; fruit flies became the first animals in Space when they were launched in a V-2 rocket on February 20, 1947. The fruit flies reached an altitude of 108 km before being recovered alive by parachute (National Geographic, 2015). The flies' journey paved the way for the next step for living things in Space, as monkeys, dogs and other animals began to make their way off of Earth. Soon after, the U.S began to fly monkeys implanted with sensors to measure their vital signs, many of which remained under anesthesia during launch (Tate, 2013). Unfortunately, the death rate among monkeys was extremely high, with about two-thirds of all monkeys launched in the 1940s and 1950s dying on missions, or shortly after landing (Dohrer, 2017). while the U.S sent monkeys to Space, the USSR opted for stray dogs because of their believed ability to withstand the cold (Tate, 2013). In one of the most controversial space trips made by an animal, Laika, the dog was sent into Space to determine whether human spaceflight was possible. At the time, very little was known about the impact of spaceflight on living things. Many scientists thought that humans would not be able to survive the conditions of Space or even the initial launch to get there (Dohrer, 2017). Laika was a crucial piece in breaking this belief and became the first animal to orbit the Earth but, sadly, also the first orbital death. The mission created immense controversy as Sputnik 2 was not retrievable, and Laika had zero chance at survival. The scientific discoveries resulting from animals such as Laika have made them an invaluable part of astronomy's history. With no up or down to orient them, fish and tadpoles swim in loops, rather than straight lines, and spiders can still spin webs despite weightless conditions (Gray, 1998) Even today, animals are still studied in Space. In April 2019, NASA shared a video of weightless mice on the International Space Station as part of their study into how astronauts on longer missions are being affected in Space (Christofaro, 2019). However, these studies did not come without loss. Over the past 70 years, scientists have used animals to unlock vital information about Space that has allowed humans to explore further outside of our own planet than ever believed to be possible. However, countless unconsenting animals have lost their lives, and many were sent on missions not just to Space, but to their deaths. The history of animals in Space, though critical to the history of Space exploration, and a paramount step towards many of the first human monuments, is marred by controversy and death. References: Christofaro, B. (2019, April 17). A NASA video shows weightless mice on the International Space Station running around in circles, eating, and playing just like they would on Earth. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-video-mice-have-fun-in-weightless-space-station-2019-4 Dohrer, E. (2017, May 31). Laika the Dog & the First Animals in Space. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/17764-laika-first-animals-in-space.html Gray, T. (1998). Animals in Space.Retrieved from https://history.nasa.gov/animals.html National Geographic. (2015, November 3). Animals In Space. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/space/animals-in-space.aspx Tate, K. (2013, April 17). Cosmic Menagerie: A History of Animals in Space (Infographic). Retrieved from https://www.space.com/20648-animals-in-space-history-infographic.html
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