On 19 August 1960, Belka (Белка) and Strelka (Стрелка) were sent to space aboard Korabl-Sputnik 2 (Корабль-Спутник 2). After 25 hours and 17 trips around the Earth, Belka and Strelka landed and became the first creatures to go into orbit and return alive. Data collected during flight helped prepare the first human spaceflight.
