The Economic Times

In 1951, Soviet dog Smelaya ran away before her rocket launch; after she returned, she flew safely with Malyshka

During the initial experiments in space exploration, Soviet engineers evaluated dogs for their survival skills during launch. Female dogs were preferred due to their tranquil temperament and manageable waste disposal. A notable event occurred when a test dog named Smelaya vanished just hours before her flight but miraculously reappeared the following day, allowing the mission to continue as intended.