India, Oct. 22 -- Veterok and Ugolyok were launched aboard the Soviet Cosmos 110 spacecraft on February 22, 1966, and returned safely to Earth on March 16, after 22 days in orbit. The mission examined the effects of prolonged spaceflight, including exposure to radiation from the Van Allen belts. Scientists tracked the dogs' vital functions, recorded their radiation exposure, and assessed their physical condition after landing.

The objectives and findings of the mission are documented in NASA's historical publication Astronautics and Aeronautics, 1966. The records describe the flight and the medical observations made during and after the mission. The findings also showed why researchers needed to examine the animals after their return, ra...