Belka and Strelka - the first dog in space.This statement has become an axiom, but in fact there is a historical lie.The first dog who climbed into orbit was Laika.But she died due to overheating straight into a spaceship.The first dog in space, Belka and Strelka, not only suffered great flight, and returned to Earth alive.
First - fly
And yet, to be absolutely accurate, the first who ventured into space, were ... fly Drosophila.They launched into orbit back in 1935.But these little creatures could help scientists.It was necessary to send into orbit a warm-blooded creature, to see how the organism will behave under weightless conditions and considerable congestion.
Strict requirements
Belka and Strelka - the first dog in space, a photo of which traveled around all the world's newspapers and magazines.But the army dogs cosmonauts was very great, and before you launch them into orbit, they are carefully selected.
requirements were strict: body weight of the animal should be no more than 7 kg, and growth should not exceed 35 centimeters.In addition, they had to have a calm and balanced character, high endurance and extremely low anxiety.
Pedigree dogs for the role of the astronauts were not good - not only that many of them were effeminate character, so they also feature more fastidious.After the study, researchers took such a decision - should be sent to space mongrel stray dogs, which are contained in nurseries.They meet all the requirements.
So Belka and Strelka, the first dog in space, though, and had an excellent pedigree, but entered the history of world cosmonautics.
beautiful appearance for astronauts
taken into account before starting the following fact.After a four-legged astronauts would have to pose in front of a lot of photographers and cameramen on the eve of the flight, and especially after it.So nice appearance also played in the selection of candidates greater role.
friendly, smart and friendly - so had to look like the first dog in space Belka and Strelka.Interesting facts from history - instead of arrows to fly prepared a completely different dog.But she had a slight curvature paws.And in the last stage of her rejected just because of this small flaw.
sad fate of Laika
Although many of us are deposited in the consciousness that Belka and Strelka - the first dog in space, yet they were not pioneers.The very first dog that flew into space was Laika.She, along with manned machine made 4 turns around the globe.But on the fifth turn of the animal could not stand overloads and died from overheating.This fact was fixed devices that transmit information and the death of "pilot" in the mission control center.The satellite does not come down to earth.He took another 2370 orbital revolutions, and then, after 5 months, burned in the atmosphere.
They returned alive
Before the flight of Belka and Strelka fly into space 18 dogs.All of them were killed - who stress who overheating, one of the strongest overloads.The first dog in space Belka and Strelka, a breed which is popularly characterized by a well-aimed word "dvorterer" returned to Earth alive.That is why they went into history as the first space explorers.
They became so popular that they were invited to different events, and thousands of people have dreamed to be photographed with this living legend.However, all warned that dogs can bite, if they show an excessive interest.They're able to not only great exercise, but also to fend for themselves.
different characters
Even during training, when the dogs were in centrifuges, were tested on a shaker, and in closed enclaves, the researchers noticed that the character "participants" of the duo is different.
Arrow was more circumspect and cautious, and protein everything seemed uneasy.When they entered the weightlessness, the arrow all the time looking around as if not understanding what was happening to her.
Belka also behave naturally and be curious.She spun around and barking fun.Incidentally, at the start of the two dogs barked leaping.Scholars interpreted this signal as a good sign.After Laika during the launch of manned spacecraft howled as if in anticipation of his death.
Life after the flight
A total of Belka and Strelka were weightless less than a day - 15 hours 44 minutes.It was August 19, 1960.They landed 10 kilometers of the planned point, but most importantly - they are alive!By the way, flew into space Belka and Strelka are not alone.Along with them went into orbit a petting zoo: a few mice, insects, as well as some plants, fungi and seeds.
scientists carefully studied the animals are not only up to the flight, but also after it.It does not affect weightlessness on their bodies, whether failures in some organs.Interested in the question and is whether these dogs give birth?And the arrow did not disappoint.Twice she give birth, and each puppy was worth its weight in gold.Many people on the globe like to have dogs in the house, whose parents were in space.It is known that the secretary general of the Communist Party Nikita Khrushchev personally presented one of the puppies Jacqueline Kennedy.
From stand-ins - a hero
In fact, the first into space ship-satellite "Vostok" was planned to send Seagull and Chanterelle.Alas, the rocket with these four-legged astronauts exploded in the air without coming into orbit.
Therefore, the launch into space of Belka and Strelka was strictly classified.Only after safe landing this historical fact, when dogs live back to Earth, widely publicized.And the whole world now knows that Belka and Strelka - the first intelligent beings who have traveled in space and returned alive.
