The first rabbit to go into space did not have a name. It went into orbit with a Samoyed dog named Otvazhnaya. They went into orbit from Russia on July 2, 1959. This information is from a book entitled 'The Top Ten of Everything' published by Dorling Kindsley.
Jun 27 2000, 6:15 PM
zbeckabee
Answer has 11 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee Moderator 19 year member
11752 replies
Answer has 11 votes.
Currently voted the best answer.
The rabbit was named Marfusha (Martha).
Otvazhnaya (Brave One), Snezhinka (Snowflake), and their rabbit partner Marfusha (Martha) made a high altitude test flight on July 2, 1959 aboard an R2-A rocket. All three animals were recovered successfully. Otvazhnaya made five high altitude test flights from 1959 to 1960.
http://www.silverdalen.se/stamps/dogs/library/library_space_dogs_russian.htm