Surprising Space Pioneers: The Unexpected Animal That Beat Humans to the Moon

What’s that saying? Slow and steady wins the race? It fits perfectly with a historic moment in space exploration—when the Soviet Union’s Zond 5 spacecraft circled the Moon on September 18, 1968.

This mission took place just months before NASA’s famous Apollo 8 journey. However, Zond 5 isn’t widely recognized as the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon, and here’s why: it didn’t carry humans. Instead, it had two Russian steppe tortoises on board, alongside some worms, flies, and seeds.

The mission aimed to study how space travel affected living organisms. This was over a decade after the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in late 1957. This achievement shocked the United States and sparked a fierce rivalry known as the Space Race.

By the late 1960s, however, the Soviets faced challenges. While NASA prepared for Apollo missions with its powerful Saturn V rocket, the Soviets were struggling. They had suffered setbacks, including tragic incidents like the death of cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov. They simply couldn’t launch a human crew for a mission to the Moon.

So, what did they do? They sent the tortoises instead. Launched on September 14, 1968, Zond 5 took the reptiles on a four-day journey around the Moon. It was a symbolic victory for the Soviets, even though they couldn’t send humans.

When Zond 5 returned to Earth on September 21, it safely landed in the Indian Ocean. The tortoises were alive but a bit lighter from their journey. This was a crucial moment, marking the first time living creatures orbited another celestial body.

Interestingly, recent studies focus on the effects of space travel on organisms, which are more relevant than ever. For example, NASA’s experiments on mice aboard the International Space Station have shown that microgravity impacts muscle and bone density. This research could help scientists prepare for longer missions, like those to Mars.

In the grand scheme, the Zond 5 mission was a small but significant step in a challenging race. It reminded everyone that even without human presence, a journey into space could yield valuable insights for future exploration.

So, the next time you hear about a moon mission, remember those little tortoises. They helped pave the way for human space travel. More than just a race between nations, it’s a shared journey of discovery.



Source link