Sure, Let's Shoot A Bunch Of Animals Into Space

Haven’t we already figured out what happens to animals if we blast them into space? Isn’t sending them up there now just asking for trouble? Like, taking the chance that they will pass through some cosmic gamma rays and come back as super-rodents bent on revenge? I mean, that is my understanding of how space travel works. I could be wrong. Anyway, if nothing else it seems kind of cruel, although I guess it is probably better than living in Russia.