Science Book Reviews

Space Dogs

"..rockets were very cramped, very noisy, very fast, and vibrated a lot. And when the scary ride was over, the dog had to parachute back to earth from 60 miles up, through air so thin you couldn't breathe it, and so cold you could freeze in the blink of an eye."

This delightful book is quite literally the story of the underdog: how man's best friend went where no man had been before - into space.

Retracing the steps of the 1950's and 60's canine pioneers of Russian space travel, Space Dogs tells the story of how strays plucked from the Moscow back streets paved the way for the first successful Earth orbit by a human.

The Russian space dog programme was crucial in helping Soviet scientists to develop the equipment they would ultimately need to be the first to successfully launch a person into space. Before space dogs Tsygan and Dezik made the world's first successful animal flight in space, and Laika became the first living creature to orbit the earth, no one knew what effects space travel would have upon a living being, including a human.

Based faithfully upon the historical record of the Soviet space dog programme, and containing previously unpublished photographs of the canine heroes to which it is devoted, Space Dogs also pays homage to the dedication of the trainers and vets who prepared each of the dogs for their epic journeys.

In summary, Space Dogs is a short, fun, and informative read, which employs a narrative element to dramatise the story. It is an excellent book which will appeal especially to young space-enthusiasts.