In 1961, a dog and a human dummy proved the Soviets were ready for spaceflight
A brave dog named Chernushka and a lifelike mannequin paved the way for human spaceflight by proving that a passenger could survive the rigors of orbit and reentry.
In 1961, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 9 to conduct a final dress rehearsal for manned missions. Onboard were a dog named Chernushka and 'Ivan Ivanovich,' a mannequin equipped with sensors to measure the physical toll of the flight. The mission successfully tested the emergency ejection system and the life-support technology required for a human pilot.
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