05
August, 1960Science And SpaceFriday, 19

The journey to the stars

The USSR began sending animals into space in the 1950s, using them as test pilots. The reactions of living organisms to weightlessness and g‑forces were studied using them. Dogs adapted to the harsh conditions the best, which is why they became the main
test subjects.
However, the scientists aimed much higher: not just to study the animals’ reactions, but to take the experiment to the point of a successful flight into Earth’s orbit and the return of the pilots alive and unharmed. This ambitious goal was more challenging than anything Soviet scientists had faced before.

Belka became the team leader. She showed the best results in the trials, actively responded to changes in conditions, and learned to bark if something was wrong. Her activity and sociability became important criteria in the selection process.

Strelka, by contrast, was timid and somewhat quiet. However, she reacted calmly to stressful situations and did not lose her composure in difficult conditions. Despite her reserved nature, she remained friendly and did not display aggression.

Stars
Rocket
Earth
noise
August, 1960Science And SpaceFriday, 20

The Return of the Star Heroes

Less than a year later, on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin would make the first human spaceflight in history. Strategically, this launch relied on the experience of four‑legged predecessors who had spent more than a day in orbit.

The daily orbital flight of Belka and Strelka was a scientific breakthrough. Medicine and science received the first practical data on the condition of the body in zero gravity. The data collected during this journey into orbit became the foundation for future space exploration.

Life on the Earth

After returning, the dogs continued to live their happy lives. Just a few months after the flight, Strelka became the mother of six puppies. One of them, Pushinka, was given to Jacqueline Kennedy — the dog grew up in the family of the President of the United States.
Belka and Strelka found their permanent home at the State Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine. They lived a long life surrounded by loving caregivers — this is exactly what the little heroes deserved.

Produced by:

Art DirectorIlya Gorobtsov
Creator, DesignViktoria Cherniakova
IllustratorVictor Sukhochev
Motion ArtistDmitriy Ryaskin
CopywriterPolina Podust
CopywriterSofia Kulikova
DeveloperAleksandr Shingarev
CEONikita Kechkin
TeamAVA Digital