Laika, the first dog in space
On Nov. 3, 1957, a small stray dog named Laika — whose name meant “barker” in Russian — was chosen for a mission unlike any before. She had wandered the streets of Moscow, surviving on scraps and kindness, until Soviet scientists selected her for a groundbreaking mission into space.
Initially called Kudryavka (Little Curly), her name was changed after she barked during a live radio introduction.
Laika was trained in cramped capsules, taught to remain calm and monitored for stress — unaware she was about to make history.
Aboard Sputnik 2, the Soviet Union’s second satellite, Laika became the first living creature to orbit Earth.
But the technology of the time couldn’t bring her back. A malfunctioning heat control system caused the temperature inside the capsule to soar, and Laika died within hours of the launch.
Though her life ended far from home, her mission paved the way for human spaceflight. Laika became a symbol of courage, a reminder of the cost of discovery and a beloved figure in the history of space exploration.
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