Monkeys in Space - Soviet Union and Later (after 1991) Russia

Soviet Union and Later (after 1991) Russia

The Soviet/Russian space program in the Bion program satellites used only the rhesus species.

The first Soviet monkeys, Abrek and Bion, flew on Bion 6. They were aloft from December 14, 1983 - December 20, 1983.

Next came Bion 7 with monkeys Verny and Gordy from July 10, 1985 - July 17, 1985.

Then Dryoma and Yerosha on Bion 8 from September 29, 1987 - October 12, 1987. After returning from space Dryoma was presented to Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Bion 9 with monkeys Zhakonya and Zabiyaka followed from September 15, 1989 to September 28, 1989. They hold the monkey in space endurance record at 13 days, 17 hours in space.

Monkeys Krosh and Ivasha flew on Bion 10 from December 29, 1992 to January 7, 1993. Sixteen-year-old space veteran Krosh has produced offspring, after rehabilitation upon returning to Earth.

Lapik and Multik are the last space monkeys to date. They flew aboard the Bion 11 mission from December 24, 1996 to January 7, 1997. Multik died following inhalation of vomitus while anesthetized for US biopsy sampling on January 8. Lapik almost died during the identical procedure. These 2 incidents, plus the bad reaction to post-flight anesthesia in the US monkey, Able, 4 days after return to earth were never followed up as a potential impact of spaceflight contraindicating anesthesia during or shortly after spaceflght. Further US support of the Bion program was cancelled.

The names of the monkeys started with each letter of the Russian alphabet sequentially (А, Б, В, Г, Д, Е, Ж, З...)