Ever since the dawn of time, humankind has been fascinated by space travel.

But did you know that long before we put the first astronaut on the moon in 1969,

animals had already been boldly stepping into the unknown for years?

Often with devastating consequences.

Though one very special ape actually became a full-blown astronaut.

All in due time.

For now, fasten your seatbelt space cadet, lift off, and T-minus three, two.

Ah, who can be bothered to wait?

Let's take a look at the mind-blowing and tragic history of every animal that went into space.

You're listening. You're listening. You're listening.

You're listening.

You're to be amazed.

In order to understand how an ape ever got the chance to become an astronaut, it's important to start,

well, at the start. Way back on June 20th, 1944, an A4 test rocket called MW-18014 launched

from the Pindamunde Army Research Center in Germany. It soared upwards to a monumental height

of 109 miles before crashing back down to Earth.

It was the first object to ever cross the Carmen Line.

The what now?

Well, rather than being an actual line, the Carmen Line is more of a proposed boundary 66 miles high,

which later became the accepted threshold where Earth's atmosphere stops and space begins.

While no animals were on board the A4 test rocket, it proved that sending living creatures to space might one day be possible.

And that day wasn't far off. Not even three years later, on February 20th, 1947, a group of fruit flies became the very first living organisms to go on a successful return journey into space.

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