Unit 9: Space and Art

Animal Sacrifice in the 20th and 21st Century

Laika, the most famous animal Astronaut
via: <https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/laika.jpeg?quality=65&strip=color&w=1100>

Space is infinitely vast, yes. Space has had an influence on art, media and design, yes. But what really intrigued me this week was not those facts or 'Powers of Ten' (I rewatched this for the Nanotech + Art unit, as I found it just as fitting there as well) but rather in learning how countless animals were used, often with no intent for their safe return, in the space industry to test the safety of their space exploration equipment. Professor Vesna highlighted one very important and well known astronautical pooch, Laika, and her story, and I was then inspired to look into some lesser known animals that also went to space to help progress mankind's understanding of space exploration technologies. [1]


Here are some notable animal space pioneers:

Dezik and Tsygan, the first living space travelers.
via: <http://todocaninos.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DezikyTsygan.jpg>

Dezik and Tsygan were the first organisms to go to space and return safely. As if going to space and returning alive wasn't amazing already, they soon after sent Dezik for another mission, where she died due to a parachute failure. [2]

The original space monkey, Albert II (What happened to Albert I you ask? Never made it to space)
via: <http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--u5FGHjg1--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/191c3e5vlgezejpg.jpg>

Albert II was the original space monkey, as in he was the first ever monkey in space. He died from the force of impact due to a parachute failure (those parachutes...). [3]

Felicette sporting her brain electrode in this signed glamour shot; her autograph is unverified for authenticity.
via: <http://sixtiescity.net/Space/Felicette.gif>

Felicette, The Space Cat, had electrodes attached to her brain which sent back valuable information about living organisms in space. [4]

This time they made custom space vests, so Belka and Strelka have a quite official looking photo
via: <http://www.dogingtonpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/belkastrelka.jpg>

Belka and Strelka were the first to orbit space and return alive. What's remarkable to me is that this time they sent a whole ark of animals: the two dogs were accompanied by a grey rabbit, 42 mice, 2 rats, flies and several plants and fungi. All passengers survived this time. [5]

These dogs had a proper space exploration; 22 whole days in orbit.
<http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lj80frpCoZ1qiwh6to1_500.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1329920596441>

Veterok and Ugolyok hit orbit and stayed for 22 days before returning safely. This is remarkable. It took another 5 years (1966 - 1971) until humans would break that record, and to this day they still remain the dogs that stayed the longest in space. Way to go V & U. [6]

Gordo here, optimistically staring far off into the distance
<http://cabinetmagazine.org/issues/34/c12-3_FINAL.jpg>

Gordo, cute squirrel monkey, was nicknamed "Old Reliable". He reached 310 miles into space and although Gordo was reliable, his parachute was not. [7]

Testing Ham's safely equipment (they finally figured out those parachutes)
via: <http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FyjDJIH4zXM/hqdefault.jpg>

Ham, the Astrochimp, was sent to pull levers to receive rewards during his flight. Researchers used this data to study decision making behaviors in space. Formerly known as No. 65, they only renamed him Ham after he safely returned to Earth because they didn't want the media covering the death of a named chimpanzee (In retrospect, a lot of these animal deaths probably wouldn't be so tragic if they were called a No. xx instead.) [8]

Not all of these animals died, but many more were killed than named here. After reading Ham's story, I realized some were never even named. But all of them suffered the unusual circumstances of going into space on experimental technology. Not by choice or for personal glory, as human astronauts have, but they were sent unknowingly as a sacrifice for mankind. Though most cultures of the world have stopped using animal sacrifices to appease the angry gods of ancient times, we still offer these animals for the glory of a new deity, technology.

References ::
[1] Vesna, Victoria, narr. “8 Space pt 3” N.p., . web. 5 Nov 2012.

[2] "Russian Space Dogs." Russian Space Dogs. Web. 31 May 2015.

[3] "First Monkey in Space." Universe Today. 31 Aug. 2009. Web. 31 May 2015.

[4] "Purr-n-Fur UK | Felicette the Space Cat, and the Mythical Felix." Purr-n-Fur UK | Felicette the Space Cat, and the Mythical Felix. Web. 31 May 2015.

[5] "Belka & Strelka: The First Dogs in Space - The Dogington Post." The Dogington Post. 25 Aug. 2014. Web. 3 June 2015.

[6] "Veterok and Ugolyok." Zoom Room Dog Training RSS. Web. 3 June 2015.

[7] Burgess, Colin, and Chris Dubbs. Animals in Space: From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle. Print.

[8] Haraway, Donna. Primate Visions: Gender, Race, and Nature in the World of Modern Science (New York: Routledge, 1989).