The article discusses the historical role of animals, particularly dogs and chimpanzees, in early space exploration. It emphasizes the ethical risks involved in using these animals for pioneering missions, starting with Laika, the first dog to orbit Earth. Selected for her docility and lack of claustrophobia, Laika's mission was inherently fatal as no retrieval systems existed. Subsequent missions aimed to return dogs safely, but many suffered the grim realities of failure or self-destruction. The involvement of NASA with chimpanzees further illustrates this historical pattern of sacrifice in the pursuit of scientific advancement.
From the outset, it was evident that Laika's mission would not be about bringing her back; the Soviets had no means to recover her from orbit.
The fate of many of these pioneering animals was grim, as many rockets were equipped with self-destruct mechanisms to prevent landing outside Soviet territory.
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