LAIKA
Laika, in 1957, became the first animal to be launched into orbit, paving the
way for human spaceflight. She is shown here in her flight harness.
Laika (from Russian: Лайка, a breed of dog, literally: "Barker" or "Howler", c.
1954 - 1957) was a Russian space dog which became the first recorded living
creature from Earth to enter orbit. At one time a stray wandering the streets of
Moscow, she was selected from an animal shelter. Originally named Kudryavka
literally: "Little Curly-Haired One"), she was renamed Laika. After
undergoing training with two other dogs, she was selected to be the occupant of
the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 and was launched into space on November 3, 1957.
Laika died a few hours after launch from stress and overheating, probably due to
a malfunction in the thermal control system. The true cause of her death was not
made public until decades after the flight.
Laika, in 1957, became the first animal to be launched into orbit, paving the
way for human spaceflight. She is shown here in her flight harness.
Laika (from Russian: Лайка, a breed of dog, literally: "Barker" or "Howler", c.
1954 - 1957) was a Russian space dog which became the first recorded living
creature from Earth to enter orbit. At one time a stray wandering the streets of
Moscow, she was selected from an animal shelter. Originally named Kudryavka
literally: "Little Curly-Haired One"), she was renamed Laika. After
undergoing training with two other dogs, she was selected to be the occupant of
the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 and was launched into space on November 3, 1957.
Laika died a few hours after launch from stress and overheating, probably due to
a malfunction in the thermal control system. The true cause of her death was not
made public until decades after the flight.