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Paired with SOLThe First Turtles in Space The first turtles in space were two Russian steppe tortoises (Testudo horsfieldii, formerly Agrionemys horsfieldii) aboard the Soviet Zond 5 spacecraft in 1968. In September 1968, the Soviet Union launched Zond 5, the first mission to carry living organisms around the Moon and return them safely to Earth. The spacecraft carried two Russian steppe tortoises, along with fruit fly eggs, mealworms, plants, seeds, bacteria, and other biological specimens to study the effects of deep-space travel. The two tortoises were identified by the numbers 22 and 37 rather than by names. They were small Russian steppe tortoises with rounded, tan-to-brown domed shells marked by darker patches, sandy-colored scaly skin, short sturdy legs, and distinctive four-toed front feet. During the mission, the tortoises completed a circumlunar journey, becoming the first Earth creatures to travel around the Moon and return safely. After recovery, scientists found that both animals had lost weight and showed some physiological changes, which were largely attributed to fasting during the mission rather than exposure to space itself. Aside from weight loss, they were found to be in generally good condition. Originally, Zond 5 was intended as part of the Soviet crewed lunar program, but following earlier spacecraft failures, it flew without cosmonauts. The successful mission demonstrated that living organisms could survive the journey through deep space, around the Moon, and the high-speed return to Earth. The flight took place several months before Apollo 8, making tortoises 22 and 37 the first Earth animals to travel around the Moon. The biological data collected from the mission helped scientists better understand the effects of deep-space travel and contributed to the development of future lunar exploration and human spaceflight.