Collection of Insane and Fun Facts
A squirrel monkey named Miss Baker was one of the first animals to be launched into space by the United States and recovered alive. She lived to the age of 27, becoming the longest living squirrel monkey, and her tombstone often has a banana or two on top of it.
Laika, the first dog in space, did not die peacefully of poison after six days as initially reported, but rather within seven hours of launch, likely due to overheating caused by a faulty temperature control system. The russians acknowledge the importance of laika several times over including a statue.
Laika the Dog, the first animal to be sent to Space, never made it back. She died shortly after entering Orbit.