The Economic Times

In 1968, two Russian steppe tortoises travelled around the Moon before humans did. They survived a punishing 20G force while returning to Earth

In a remarkable journey, two Russian steppe tortoises embarked on a mission aboard Zond 5, orbiting the Moon in September 1968. This pioneering endeavour demonstrated that biological life could endure the challenges of circumlunar spaceflight and successfully return. Despite facing intense gravitational stress during re-entry, the resilient tortoises emerged unscathed, making their voyage a historic precursor to mankind's lunar exploration.