Space Dogs

A mysterious man roams Moscow in 1960, catching stray dogs. Strelka escapes with her friend Lenny, and a payphone incident leads to coins and trouble. Belka, Strelka, and Lenny then meet several other stray dogs, setting the stage for their unlikely journey.

A month before launch, Bula and Mula are initially selected for flight training at Baikonur. On the final training day, Lenny wins and Belka and Strelka finish second and third. The selection process continues as the mission approaches.

Final launch group is announced: Lenny leads the mission with Belka and Strelka as crew. The trio trains together and prepares for spaceflight, while other dogs watch. The team is determined to succeed despite the risks.

Strelka voices a desire to stay in space because Sirius is said to watch from the stars. Kazbek reveals himself as a stowaway and tries to persuade her to turn back. The crew forges ahead with the mission’s preparations.

During flight, a meteor shower strikes the rocket, igniting a fire and threatening the mission. The dogs must improvise to prevent disaster and keep the craft under control. Their quick thinking and teamwork become the key to survival.

Belka plunges into the driver’s seat to steer the rocket back toward Earth. From the rear, Strelka and Lenny fight the flames using their feeding formula as makeshift water. Amid the danger, Kazbek confesses his love for Belka.

The dogs re-enter and return to Earth alive after the crisis. They observe celestial formations and Strelka salutes Sirius in honor of her father. The mission is celebrated as a historic achievement.

Belka, Strelka, and Lenny receive a hero’s welcome upon their return. Kazbek is revealed to have stowed away, but Soviet propaganda suppresses the full story. The scientists emphasize keeping the truth under wraps for political reasons.

Back in the United States, the Kennedy pets are skeptical of Pushok’s tale about the space dogs. One dog notices a Cosmonaut Patch on Pushok’s cushion and asks him to recount what happened. Pushok’s story becomes a shared bridge between the two groups.

Strelka returns to live with her mother after the mission. Venya travels to conferences, recounting his experiences to willing listeners. The story continues to inspire audiences long after the flight.

Belka returns to the circus as its main star, flying the repaired rocket again. Kazbek and Belka begin a life together, finding companionship after surviving the mission. The group settles into hopeful futures.

The film ends with end credits accompanied by real archival footage from the Soviet space program and its dogs. The blend of fiction and history leaves a lasting sense of nostalgia for the era. Viewers are reminded of the real-world context of the story.