![]() ![]() Laika a stray dog wandering the streets of Moscow became the first animal launched into orbit, paving the way for human. Today there is a monument dedicated to the hero pup in Moscow. On the USSR sent the former stray into orbit, where sadly she parished. Laika panicked and her heartbeat rose rapidly until her heart stopped. She was the first ever living thing sent into space. Temperatures inside the capsule escalated to above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling system of the capsule malfunctioned and started overheating. The scientist further revealed that Laika orbited the earth four times only. However, in 2002 one of the scientists in the Sputnik 2 space program, Dimitri Malashenkov, stated that Laika only lasted a few hours in space. Other reports claimed that Laika’s death was caused by asphyxiation after the batteries to her life support system failed. ![]() Later, it was reported that the scientists poisoned Laika to save her from a painful death in space. Laika’s condemnation to death sparked a worldwide debate on cruelty towards animals and ethics of animal testing.įor many years, the Soviet Union claimed that Laika, aboard Sputnik 2, orbited the Earth for several days. Stamps picturing Laika, cigarettes, matches as well as many other products were branded Laika across the soviet republics and the world. The fact that Laika was intended to die drew criticism from the media, animal rights groups, and the US government. There was a worldwide cry and condemnation of the Sputnik space mission. The scientists involved in the program are reported to have pecked Laika’s nose before her takeoff into space and wished her well, knowing too well she would not return. The satellite disintegrated upon entering the atmosphere. On April 14, 1958, over five months after Laika's launch into space, Sputnik 2 re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere – with Laika’s remains inside – after 2,570 orbits. This haste is believed to have led to the malfunction of the cooling system inside the capsule of the satellite. The scientists behind the program only had a few weeks to deliver and thus plans for a return journey were scrapped. This satellite needed to be bigger than its predecessor, Sputnik 1, and the launch date needed to be on the 40th Anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution. Sputnik 2 was hastily built due to the politics and publicity associated with the launch. Her great endurance was due to her adaptation to harsh living conditions.Īll along the Soviets knew that Laika would never come home. However, as she floated in space Laika started to calm down. During the launch, sensors indicated that her heartbeat and breathing rate increased three to four times her normal rates. Laika was found on the streets of Moscow and was selected for the space program. Soviet scientists chose stray dogs for the program because of their endurance to harsh cold conditions and extreme hunger. 1954 3 November 1957) was a Soviet space dog who became one of the first animals in space, and the first animal to orbit the Earth. Laika was one of the first living things to float in space and the first to orbit the earth. Inside the satellite was Laika, a dog that is internationally popular to date. On November 3, 1957, a Soviet satellite, Sputnik 2, launched into space from Moscow.
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