posted 07-17-2005 06:29 PM               

Recently, I mentioned here that I was working on co-authoring a new book dealing with a spaceflight subject. Ordinarily, authors keep any works-in-progress pretty close to their chests, but my co-author and I have agreed that many folks in this eclectic forum could probably assist us in our research, with suitable acknowledgement of their input. It's a fairly open-ended enquiry at this time, but later in the process one or two of you might just hold the key to some valuable information, so we'd appreciate hearing from anyone. You can contact me at my registered collectSPACE e-mail address provided above this message. So here's what's happening:

Philadelphia-based author (and fellow collectSPACER) Chris Dubbs and I have joined forces to research and write a book detailing the complete history of animal space flights, associated biological test research and high-altitude animal balloon flights. A couple of years back Chris had a book published called "Space Dogs: Pioneers of Space Travel," which is a subject that has long been of interest to me. Chris's book was written mostly for a juveline market and was not overly long, but his research was exemplary, so we tossed around the idea of co-writing a definitive history of animal space and high-altitude research flights, embracing specifically the Soviet/CIS and U.S. programs, but also lesser-known ones of other countries.

Chris is concentrating most of his efforts on the space dog flights carried out by the Russians, whilst I am looking at the American monkey programs, Holloman AFB and such.

Our research has progressed extremely well so far and we have made some valuable contacts, but is there anyone out there with a particular interest in any facet of this research and these biological rocket flights who might be able to help us? We are hoping to identify any publications (apart from commonly available books) that might be tucked away in archives and libraries, any government technical reports on animal launches, or translations of relevant Soviet or U.S. reports that could assist us. While the U.S. side of the story is fairly well detailed (apart from the "sham" biological Discoverer program), the early Russian space dog flight program is still shrouded in a degree of mystery and a confusion of contradictory reports, so any help there would be greatly appreciated.

The book, "Animals in Space: From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle," has been contracted by the publishers for completion in manuscript form by September 2006, and it will be released early in 2007 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary year of the history-making orbital flight of Laika, back in November 1957.

As mentioned, any early assistance would be greatly appreciated by both of us, and we hope the knowledgable generosity of the good folks at collectSPACE will extend to perhaps answering some specific questions a little further down the track.

Many thanks,

posted 07-18-2005 10:28 AM               

In the 1960s, the French Research Centre for Aeronautical Medicine (CERMA) put three animals on ballistic flights: the rat Hector (1961), the cat Felicette (1963) and the monkey Martine (1967).

Afterwards CNES wondered if it would become involved in manned space flight. Later French Air Force pilot Jean-Loup CHRETIEN became the first Western European to fly in space.

posted 07-26-2005 06:41 PM               

That being said I feel that this new venture could be exactly what fellow followers of these programs are looking forward to in lieu of the same four images of Laika found on the net to site one example of the lack of information on these subjects.

On November 3 of this year I will be launching my own website that will revolve around and include social commentary on the Soviet space dog program.

posted 07-27-2005 04:19 AM               

I know that Chris did not have too many photos in his book as he had to pay the full copyright figure on those he did use, which was an extremely costly exercise.

posted 08-10-2005 10:49 AM               

Other than that I'm curious about image rights. Are you getting the images for this book from Novosti? Do most of these images even have rights holders or are they public domain? The reason I ask is there is a website called videocosmos who claim to have 50 images of the Space Dogs that range from $150-$250 to "buy" for print in magazines, books, ect.

posted 08-10-2005 05:09 PM               

Having conducted a lot of fresh research into the subject and dismissing a lot of contradictory information, Chris Dubbs agrees with you that there never was a camera loaded aboard Sputnik 2. This came about through some sources incorrectly identifying Sputnik-Korabl 2 (on which a camera was loaded) as Sputnik 2. While Chris is conducting almost all the research and doing the vast majority of writing on the early Soviet dog flights, I can add that I once had the chance to discuss Laika's flight with the amazingly friendly Oleg Gazenko (although without the aid of an interpreter it was hard going) and he told me about the insulation being stripped from Laika's craft that caused the inner temperature to rise to around 40 degrees C, and in regard to her demise he could only tell me that she died "very early" in her flight. However more research might turn up more definitive information than this, as telemetry would have to have given certain indications about the dog's well-being and eventual expiry.

posted 05-14-2006 05:42 AM               

We surely know:

The US space program used a monkey, as early as 1949 on modified V-2 rocket, later on-board capsules similar to the Mercury-project capsules.

The Soviets used dogs, Laika was the first animal to orbit the Earth.

Yesterday on BBC-2 I heard that an insect (fly) was the first animal to fly on a V-2 rocket in 1946?

posted 06-16-2006 02:49 AM               

Animals in Space: From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle
Series: Springer Praxis Books
Subseries: Space Exploration
Burgess, Colin, Dubbs, Chris
2007, Approx. 350 p., 160 illus., Softcover.
ISBN: 0-387-36053-0
Due: April 2007

This book is intended as a detailed, but highly readable and balanced account of the history of animal space flights, and the resultant application of hard-won research to space technology and astrobiology.

Animals in Space will explain why dogs, primates, mice and other rodents were chosen and tested, at a time when dedicated scientists from both space nations were determined to establish the survivability of human subjects on both ballistic and orbital space flights. It will also recount the way this happened; the secrecy involved and the methods employed, and offer an objective analysis of how the role of animals as
spaceflight test subjects not only evolved, but subsequently changed over the years in response to a public outcry led by animal activists. It will explore the ways in which animal high-altitude and space flight research impacted on space flight biomedicine and technology, and how the results - both successful and disappointing - allowed human beings to then undertake that same hazardous journey with far greater understanding and confidence.

This book will undoubtedly become the ultimate authority on animal space flights.

posted 06-22-2006 01:30 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Philip:
Really enjoyed the 'Monkey in blue suit' article of Dwayne Day ( again with superb photos ) in BIS Spaceflight issue of July 2006, never knew the USAF went ahead with such a program.

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As I wrote in the BIS Spaceflight thread elsewhere, it's nice to be able to shed some light on this subject. In all my research on the Discoverer/CORONA program, I never found much mention of the monkey flight program. It's not in the official histories or even in the documents. At most I think I've seen one or two cryptic references to it. And as I think we mentioned in a footnote in the Spaceflight article, I have a vague recollection of reading a comment that the program fell behind schedule and was canceled.

But Colin and I managed to dig up some more sources. Of these, the most significant are the photographs themselves, which confirm that they actually built and tested hardware. Also significant is the overview of the program that we found that provided information on the monkey testing procedures and the research program, as well as the development of the capsule (or "life cell").

posted 01-17-2007 08:00 PM               

I am delighted to say that just a little over two years later, Chris and I have now received the first copies of our new Springer-Praxis book, "Animals in Space: From Research Rockets to the Space Shuttle." We are very much indebted to several people in this forum, and their kind assistance has been acknowledged in the book.

Now all you have to do is make us millionaires by rushing out and buying copies direct from the publishers, or from such online stores as Amazon.com. It is the definitive story of animal space flight and associated research, and is chock-full of some great new photos. It was also designed for release this year to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of Laika.

Chris had to conduct some incredibly difficult research for this book, and he came up trumps, as you will discover when you read it. He and I are truly thrilled to have worked together on this book after collectSPACE introduced us to each other, and we already have plans for another exciting project in the future.

posted 01-18-2007 09:39 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by DavidH:
I've pre-ordered my copy. Look forward to reading it!

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posted 01-18-2007 06:38 PM               

I regret not yet having had the opportunity to attend any of the events where cS's congregate. I very much enjoy being part of this wonderful network and look forward to the chance to meet some of you folks in the future.