[Soviet Space Dogs Mishka and Tsigan]

Dmitri Baltermants

1951 · Gelatin silver print · Photographs

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.

Artist

Dmitri Baltermants

Date

1951

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Department

Photographs

Credit line

Twentieth-Century Photography Fund, 2018