Pets in Space Fancy naming your pet after famous animals who have travelled in space?  Here are a few  names to choose from.  And yes, a French rat called Hector was the first Frenchman to reach the final frontier! More details below. Selection of Space Animals     Dogs... 1957 - Laika ( in English, "Baker") - the most famous dog in Russia, and certainly the dog with the most nicknames - Kudryavka ("Little Curly"), Zhuchka ("Little Bug"), Limonchik ("Little Lemon") and Muttnik.  Possibly quite a small dog, Laika was the first living creature to reach orbit. It was a real rags to riches tale for Laika.  Picked from the streets of Moscow for her streetwise attributes, she trained with two other dogs to win the right to pilot Sputnik 2 into space.  Please visit the Internet Memorial to Laika. Cats... 1963 - Felicette (also called Felix) - the only cat to ever reach space. Mice... 1952 - Mildred 1952 - Albert 1958 - Mia 1958 - Wilkie 1960 - Amy 1960 - Sally 1960 - Mo Rats... 1961 - Hector - The first French space traveller. Hector the rat became a source of national pride (or héros national) in France on February 22, 1961, when he piloted the Veronique AGI24 rocket into the lower atmosphere and saw the stars.  Also known as the first of the gang to die.   1962 - Castor 1962 - Pollux Monkeys... 1948 - Albert 1951 - Yorick 1952 - Patricia 1952 - Mike 1958 - Gordo (also called Old Reliable) 1959 - Able 1959 - Baker 1959 - Sam 1961 - Goliath 1961 - Scatback 1969 - Bonny Chimps... 1960 - Ham 1960 - Enos For a full listing of animals in space please refer to Non-human astronauts.   Can you think of some better names? Is Wickie a good name for a mouse? Please use the Feedback  form to submit cool names and any comments about the website. None of these names suit your pet? Try the Monkey Astronauts Hall of Fame or the Monthly Top Ten. Alternatively, for free advice, email a photo of your pet and details to nameyourpet email Want something really cool? Your pet will be the envy of the town with St Francis Pet Tags. Really!