There is also a joke about this. Since the spaceship was technically a military vessel there had to be an officer on board during the mission so a Red Army Col

There is also a joke about this. Since the spaceship was technically a military vessel there had to be an officer on board during the mission so a Red Army Colonel had been sent in the same mission with Belka and Strelka (the dogs). As it gets into the orbit a radio communication is established with the Flight Control Center. Center: Belka, come in! Belka: woof Center: Transmit the navigation data, over. Belka: woof, woof! [The data transmission completes] Center: Strelka, come in! Strelka: woof Center: You need to fire engine #3 for 5 seconds to correct course, over. Strelka: woof, woof! [The observation detects engine firing] Center: Comrade Colonel, come in. Colonel: Woof! Center: Don't "woof" at me, feed the dogs and don't touch anything there, over.