Space Dog

In 1960, a man arrives in Moscow to capture stray dogs. Strelka runs away with her friend Lenny the rat, while Belka the circus pig proves too large to fly in the initial rocket plan. Their encounters set the stage for a future space mission.

Belka is used to replace Venya because she is too large to fly. The rocket misfires and Belka crashes onto a payphone where Lenny is searching for coins. The crash breaks the phone and Lenny ends up with the money, while Belka and Strelka meet other stray dogs.

Belka and Strelka are joined by three other stray dogs—Bula, Mula, and Pirate. The next morning, the dogs are captured by the strange man who has been chasing them. They are then put on a train toward Baikonur as part of the space program.

The dogs arrive at the Soviet space program training center at Baikonur and meet Kazbek, their German Shepherd trainer. Kazbek must select the two best dogs from the group for the mission. Initially, Bula and Mula are chosen, but final training changes the line-up.

On the final training day, Lenny finishes first, while Belka and Strelka finish second and third. The flight group becomes Lenny with Belka and Strelka, setting the stage for the historic space mission.

As the mission nears departure, Strelka contemplates staying in space because of Sirius legend. Kazbek secretly stows away on the flight, risking exposure for the chance to be with Belka.

A meteorite shower is misidentified as space-dwellers, and the rocket is damaged by the impact. Lenny, Strelka, and Kazbek combat the fire with improvised water from feeding formula while Belka takes control to steer the rocket back toward Earth.

The crew continues to fight the crisis and finally returns to Earth alive. They share a quiet moment looking at constellations, and Strelka salutes Sirius in honor of her father.

The astronauts receive a hero’s welcome, but Kazbek’s stowaway status is revealed only privately. The project scientist notes that Soviet propaganda will not acknowledge the stowaway.

Back in the United States, the Kennedy pets doubt Pushok's tale about the mission. One dog notices the cosmonaut patch on Pushok's cushion and asks him to recount what happened afterward.

Strelka is reunited with her mother after the mission and returns to life with her family. The space odyssey becomes a legend among the dogs and their circle.

Venya holds conferences to recount the dogs' adventures for anyone willing to listen. Belka returns to the circus as the main star, flying the repaired rocket, and Kazbek begins living with her.