Next Up: Pets in Space?

The United States favored chimpanzees for space research and built up a program of suborbital flights that preceded the launch of America's first astronaut, Alan Shepard, on May 5, 1961. Another chimp, Enos, flew before NASA launched John Glenn on the first orbital mission on Feb. 20, 1962.

As the Soviets and the Americans expanded their space programs to include research satellites and space stations, animals became subjects for life science experiments. The orbital menagerie included monkeys, frogs, fish, spiders, fruit flies, newts, rats, crickets and worms.

Linnehan said space travelers in the future may have a greater variety of options for companions.

"Maybe they won't have dogs and cats," he said. "Maybe they'll find some strange life on another planet that makes a great pet."

In the meantime, Dextre the robot offers a start. He will soon be assisting astronauts during spacewalks to maintain the space station.

Related Links:

Irene Klotz's blog: Space Diary

NASA: Animals in Space

NASA: Laika the Space Dog

Canadarm2, or Dextre