40 Never-Heard-Of Science Facts That Will Amaze You

In an astonishing achievement back in 1960, the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 5 spacecraft orbited Earth with a unique crew onboard that included dogs, a rabbit, 42 mice, two rats, and several fruit flies. This marked the first time animals had ventured into space and returned to Earth alive, setting a precedent for future space explorations.

Following the Soviet Union’s groundbreaking mission, France made its mark in space exploration history by launching a rat named Hector to over ninety miles above Earth in 1961. Miraculously, Hector survived the journey, encouraging France to send two more rats into space the next year, contributing to our understanding of space travel’s effects on living organisms.