okay.. i did some searching.. and found this:
Before sending the first human Yuri Gagarin to space, Russian
scientists made a lot of experiments with animals.
The most well known are two dogs who were sent in Russian rocket
just before the first human made his flight.
This launch of the first space pig is less known to public, and in
this Year of the Pig according to Oriental calendar, we can
commemorate this brave pioneer of Russian space science.
And look how this hero is treaded with humanity - they gave him
some wine before the launch in order to bring it in relaxed
state.
courtesy of English Russia
