A man in Sergey Garmash](/actor/sergey-garmash) as Kazbek, a dog trainer, is tasked with preparing dogs for space missions in the Soviet Union. The story begins with a young Maryana Spivak as [Strelka, a stray dog who, along with her friends, faces numerous adventures and dangers on the streets of Moscow in 1960. During this time, a peculiar man attempts to catch stray dogs, including a playful terrier mix named Strelka, who narrowly escapes him with her friend, a rat named Lenny.
Meanwhile, a circus pig named Vova grows too large to fly in his rocket, leading to Belka, a spirited Samoyed, stepping in to take his place. Belka, along with Strelka and Lenny, eventually find themselves at a Soviet space program training center located in Baikonur. Here, they meet their trainer, Kazbek, a devoted German Shepherd, played by Sergey Yushkevich. The dogs undergo intensive training, and despite initial plans to send a different group into space, fate intervenes. On the final day, Belka and Strelka outperform the others, earning their spots on the historic launch alongside Lenny, who is the first to fly.
As the launch approaches, tension rises. Kazbek, secretly stowing away on the spacecraft, tries to ensure their safety. During the mission, the dogs encounter a meteor shower that damages the rocket, causing it to catch fire. In a dramatic and heroic moment, Strelka, Maria Spivak, jumps into the driver's seat to steer the spacecraft back to Earth, while Belka bravely extinguishes a fire by jumping through flames, and Lenny assists in the crisis. Their courage and teamwork help them survive, and they safely return to Earth to a hero’s welcome. During this mission, Strelka reflects on her own roots, saluting Sirius in honor of her father, as she gazes at the stars.
Post-mission, the dogs are celebrated as heroes, although the scientists decide to keep the entire story under wraps due to political reasons, especially Kazbek’s secret involvement. Strelka goes back to her mother, thriving in her new life, while Belka becomes a circus star, flying a restored rocket. Venya, a fellow dog, shares his stories of adventure, and Kazbek finds happiness with Belka.
Throughout the film, themes of bravery, friendship, and sacrifice are highlighted, emphasizing the extraordinary journey of these space dogs against the backdrop of Cold War-era space exploration. The story culminates in heartfelt endings for each character, with the real footage of Soviet space dogs shown during the credits, celebrating their historic contributions to space science.
This heartwarming tale captures the true spirit of adventure and heroism, portraying how these dogs—once stray animals—became symbols of courage and hope for humanity’s reach into the stars.
