Russian cosmonauts used to pack shotguns in case they had to fight off bears after landing

Cosmonauts, the Russian version of astronauts, used to pack shotguns on their spaceships when they travelled into space. This was a precaution as their space shuttles commonly landed in Siberia upon reentry, which was inhabited by a large population of aggressive bears. The shotguns were used to fend off the bears until help would arrive. While that sounds harsh, Russia has actually become the most common launch point for astronauts from all across the world, as it is the easiest place to break through the stratosphere.