What Was The First Animal To Land On The Moon?

No animal has ever landed on the moon! Animals have been in space since the 1940's. First of all fruit flies were sent up in a US launched rocket, called V2, in the year 1946. But the first animal in space was Albert II on 14th June 1949. (The first Albert had died). Albert II died on impact because his parachute failed !

Various monkeys were sent into space during the 1950's and 60's. The first animal to actually go into orbit was a soviet dog called Laika who was a Russian launched dog, but he died on the flight. Even the French launched Felix the cat into space and he survived the trip.

When animals are launched into space they are usually fitted with sensors to ascertain the effects which the flight has on their bodies. They are anaesthetised as well, so that they do not become over wrought by the experience and die too suddenly. So the animals do not experience undue suffering by being launched into space.

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