Animals In Space

The First Animal in Space was Laika - Soviet/Russian space dog aboard Sputnik 2 in November 2nd, 1957.

Albert II, a Rhesus Monkey, became the first monkey in space on June 14, 1949.

Sputnik 5 (also known as Korabl-Sputnik 2) carried the dogs Belka and Strelka on August 19, 1960. It was the first spacecraft to carry animals into orbit and return them alive.

Ham was the first chimpanzee (monkey) in space. He flew on a suborbital flight on January 31, 1961 in a Mercury spacecraft launched on a U.S. Redstone rocket. The launch site was Cape Canaveral, Florida.

France flew the first rat (Hector) into space on February 22, 1961. Two more rats were flown in October 1962.

The first tortoise in space was launched September 14, 1968 by the Soviet Union.

Related:

Space Animals: Books

Spacechimp: Nasa's Ape in Space (Countdown to Space) by Melinda Farbman, Frye Gaillard
This book is about the training of Ham, the first chimp in space. 
From Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

Space Dogs: Pioneers of Space Travel by Chris Dubbs
From Amazon.com, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com

Astro Bunnies by Christine Loomis, Ora Eitan (Illustrator)
This book is a child space book for entertainment reading. 
From Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

Dogs in Space by Nancy Coffelt: Kids Space Book
From Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk

Animal In Space Links:

• Animals in Space:

• More Animals in Space:

• Animal Astronauts:

• The Mad Scientist Network: Astronmy Re:Animals In Space