Title: Animals have been used in space science research since the beginning of the space age.
1(No Transcript)
2A Brief History of Animals in Space
- Animals have been used in space science research
since the beginning of the space age.
- Both the United States and Soviet/Russian space
programs used animals to collect medical
information and test the concepts used to put
humans in space.
3Early Days of Animal Spaceflight
- In 1948 a rhesus monkey named Albert was
launched on a sub-orbital flight aboard a V2. - Three more V2 flights took place in 1949
involving monkeys named Albert II, Albert III and
Albert IV. - Unfortunately none of these animals survived due
to mechanical failures.
V2 rocket
41950s
- In the 1950s the US developed a new, more
reliable rocket called the Aerobee. - The first launch of the Aerobee rocket carried a
monkey named Albert V. - Unfortunately this rocket also crashed after
failure of its parachute system.
Aerobee rocket launch
51950s
- Finally in September 1951 an Aerobee rocket
carrying a rhesus monkey named Albert VI along
with 11 mice survived a flight into space. - Sadly Albert VI died two hours after landing.
61950s
- In May 1952 two Phillipine macaque monkeys named
Patricia and Michael were launched on the third
Aerobee launch. - The flight was a resounding success and both were
recovered in good health - a big step forward for
American space flight.
71950s
- While the US were using monkeys in their testing
the Soviets had decided to use dogs. - In July 1951 the Soviet Union launched two dogs
Tsygan and Dezik into space on a R-1 rocket - Both dogs survived the flight.
Soviet Space Dog
81950s
- On November 3, 1957 the Soviets launched Sputnik
2 carrying a dog named Laika. - She became the first animal to orbit the Earth.
Laika
91950s
- Laika died just a few hours after launch due to
stress and overheating - Although she did not survive her flight proved
that a living organism could be launched into
orbit and survive microgravity.
Laika in her capsule prior to launch
101950s
- In December 1958 the US launched a squirrel
monkey named Gordo aboard a Jupiter rocket. - The parachute system failed and unfortunately
Gordo was lost.
Gordo the squirrel monkey
111950s
- After Gordo two monkeys were selected for the
next biological flight, Able and Baker. - Able and Baker were launched on a Jupiter rocket
on May 28, 1959. - The flight went flawlessly with the monkeys
experiencing 9 minutes of weightlessness before
returning safely.
Able and Baker
121950s
- Able died 4 days after the mission during surgery
to remove an infected electrode. - Baker lived until the ripe old age of 27, dying
in 1984. - She even celebrated her 21st birthday with 1000
guests being presented with a jelly cake made
with strawberries and bananas.
Baker the squirrel monkey
131960s
- Russia continued sending dogs into space.
- Belka and Strelka spent a day in orbit aboard
Sputnik 5 on August 19, 1960 and were
successfully returned to Earth. - They became the first Earth born creatures to
orbit the Earth and return alive.
Strelka and Belka
141960s
- In January 1961 Ham the chimpanzee was launched
into space. - He had been trained to pull levers to receive
banana pellets and avoid electric shocks. - His flight demonstrated the ability to perform
tasks in microgravity.
Ham being greeted by the recovery ships commander
after his flight
151960s
- On April 12, 1961 Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin
became the first human in space and also the
first to orbit the Earth. - This was followed by American Alan B. Shepards
suborbital flight on May 5, 1961
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin the first man in
space (Source The Russian Institute of
Radionavigation and Time)
161960s
- A chimpanzee named Enos became the first chimp to
orbit the Earth in November 1961. - Enos paved the way for American John Glenn to
orbit the Earth.
Enos on launch day
171960s
- In the Soviet Union the dogs Veterok and Ugolyok
were launched aboard Kosmos 110 on February 22,
1966 and spent 22 days in orbit. - This record breaking flight was not surpassed by
humans until 1974.
Veterok and Ugolyok on a Russian postal stamp in
1966
181960s
- After the Moon landing in July 1969 the role of
animals in space was downgraded to biological
research payloads. - Their role became helping us understand the long
term health effects associated with the space
environment
Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
19Continued Research on Animals in Space
- When the space shuttle was first launched in 1981
it provided the perfect platform for scientists
and researchers to undertake experiments on
animals in space.
20Continued Research on Animals in Space
- The use of animals on the Space Shuttle has
greatly advanced the understanding of gravity on
physiology, improved the ability of astronauts to
live and work in space and tested new medical
therapies for use back on Earth.
An astronaut examines a newt aboard the Space
Shuttle
21Continued Research on Animals in Space
- Throughout the 1990s research continued on a wide
variety of animals to study the effect of
microgravity on biology including crickets, mice,
rats, frogs, newts, fruit flies, snails, fish,
insect eggs, quail eggs and more.
22Continued Research on Animals in Space
- Australia launched animals into space in 2003,
Glen Waverly Secondary College supported by RMIT
University, Melbourne Zoo and the Department of
Education launched spiders into space aboard the
Space Shuttle Columbia. - The aim of the experiment was to study the
composition of spider webs in microgravity for
materials research. - Unfortunately this was the ill fated flight in
which the Space Shuttle was lost on re-entry to
the Earths atmosphere.
23Animals The Pioneers of Spaceflight
- Throughout the early days of spaceflight animals
played a vital role in testing the initial
spacecraft and technology needed to put humans
into space. - They deserve to be remembered as the real
pioneers of space flight. - Even today animals play a vital role in
furthering our understanding of the space
environment.