By: Dylan Cuenca

The types of animals that have been in space Monkeys Cats Dogs Mice Hamsters Fruit Flies Goldfish Frogs

Animals were sent to space originally to test the survivability of spaceflight before humans went to space. The purpose of sending animals to space was to test the effects of radiation exposure at high altitudes.

Fruit Flies were the first species to be sent to space on February 20, Fruit Flies are used, because they are genetically similar to humans. More fruit flies are scheduled to be sent to space within a year to study the effects of long term space travel on the human cardiovascular system.

In 1949 a Rhesus monkey named Albert II was sent in a specially adapted rocket to 83 miles above Earth. In 1957 a Russian dog named Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth.

Generally we learn how the human body may react to microgravity, but we have discovered other things as well. Most animals adapt quickly and go about their business as they do on Earth. Although it was found that fish swim in loops because they have no sense of direction without gravity.

When animals are sent into space they are taken care of in the most humane way possible. The rules for housing the animals are more explicit than those for children in daycare on Earth. The US Department of Agriculture protects the rights of animals in space.

Yes. In fact a monkey was sent to space on January 28, 2013 by Iran. Many say that Iran is following a path similar to that taken by the United States. Today fewer animals are being sent space due to cutbacks in the space program budget.