Animals in space have been pivotal to our understanding of the effects of space travel on living organisms, with the first animal astronauts being fruit flies launched in 1947 to study radiation exposure at high altitudes https://dragonflyaerospace.com..../the-importance-of-s These early spacefarers, including a variety of species from monkeys to mice, have contributed significantly to space research, helping to pave the way for human spaceflight.