1963: Cat
France successfully sent the first cat, Félicette, into space on October 18, 1963. A second feline launched six days later by France did not fare as well.
On October 18, 1963, French scientists launched the first cat into space on a Veronique AGI sounding rocket No. 47.
The cat, named Félicette, was successfully retrieved after a parachute descent, but a second feline flight on October 24 ran into difficulties that prevented recovery.