What was the first known lifeform in space?

This was a question that I posed to the class today as we were learning about Jupiter.
I let them know that humans weren't the first living thing to go into space, and asked them
what they thought might have gone into space before man.

I know that this cartoon is a dramatization of an actual tragedy, but I thought it was more
appropriate than actually sharing with them the horrible truth about Laika.  After nearly 50
years, Russian Space Teams finally revealed that poor Laika actually died shortly after takeoff
from stress and heat.  Her dead body was left to orbit Earth for months before everything burnt
up in our atmosphere returning to Earth.

You are welcome to share this romanticized version with your children, or conduct your own searches into the various animals that went to space before man (dogs, chimps, even a tortoise).  It really is amazing how far we have come in space travel in the past 60-70 years, but it is also sad to learn of the sacrifices made in the early days to help us get to where we are.  RIP Laika.  You are not forgotten!!