On this day in space! Sept. 15, 1968: Russian tortoises (& other critters) launch around the moon on Zond 5 spacecraft in wild first circumlunar flight

The Soviet Union’s Zond 5 mission achieved a historic milestone on September 15, 1968, marking the first circumlunar flight undertaken by any nation. This ambitious endeavor involved launching a spacecraft equipped with live animals – specifically, several tortoises along with dogs and mice – into orbit around the Moon. The primary objective of the Zond 5 mission was to gather data regarding human endurance during extended spaceflight conditions. Following a successful orbital journey lasting approximately 30 hours, the spacecraft returned safely to Earth on September 23, 1968, completing its designated tasks. This pioneering experiment provided invaluable insights for future manned lunar missions, demonstrating the feasibility of long-duration space travel.