What was the first animal launched into space?
Ladybugs
Fruit flies
Moths
Cockroaches
Fact: Fruit flies were the first animals ever launched into space. In 1947, the United States sent a group of fruit flies aboard a captured German V-2 rocket to an altitude of roughly 68 miles above the accepted boundary of space. Scientists chose fruit flies because their genetic makeup is surprisingly similar that of humans, making them ideal for studying the effects of radiation and high-altitude exposure. The flies were successfully recovered alive, proving that living organisms could survive spaceflight—an essential milestone that paved the way for later animal missions and, ultimately, human space travel.
Correct Answer: Fruit flies