[Soviet Space Dogs Mishka and Tsigan]
Dmitri Baltermants Russian
Not on view
As one of the Soviet Union’s preeminent photojournalists, Baltermants was granted coveted access to aspects of the nation’s highly secretive space program. He photographed cosmonaut and national hero Yuri Gagarin, as well as his predecessors, the canine cosmonauts who were sent into orbit to test the physiological effects of space travel. This photograph shows two of the first space dogs, Mishka (Little Bear) and Tsigan (Gypsy) trying on their custom-made suits.