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This November will be time to remember the scientific contributions of Laika, a Soviet space dog who became the first animal to orbit the Earth.
Laika was launched on the spacecraft Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. She was part of an experiment to see if a living creature could survive a rocket launch and the weightlessness of space. The experiment provided key insights via sensors on Laika’s body, and helped pave the way for human spaceflight.
Perhaps surprisingly, Laika was not a highly pedigreed dog. She was a stray found in Moscow – which researchers believed would be an advantage because she had to be tough to survive living on the streets. It’s not known for sure what her heritage was – most likely part husky, Samoyed and/or terrier.
It’s important to note that Laika was not the first animal in space itself. (They were fruit flies.) Or even the first dog. (The Soviet Union had launched two dogs years earlier.) But Laika was the first to make the “big trip” around the Blue Planet.
Unfortunately, Laika didn’t survive the trip. The exact cause of her death has been a source of controversy and played a role in the debate over the ethics of scientific animal testing.
You can read more about this canine space explorer at the links below.
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Laika the space dog: First living creature in orbit | Space
The Story of Laika: The First Dog in Space (animalwised.com)
Photo: Wikipedia
