In November 1957, just one month after Sputnik 1 became the first satellite in space, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 - this time carrying a passenger. A small mixed-breed stray dog named Laika, picked up from the streets of Moscow, became the first living creature ever to orbit Earth.
Laika was chosen because Soviet scientists believed strays were tough enough to survive the trip and gentle enough to be handled. She was trained for the flight by being placed in progressively smaller boxes for long periods, getting used to the cramped capsule she’d be flying in. The launch went perfectly - Laika successfully reached orbit.
Sadly, the technology to bring her home didn’t yet exist. The mission was always one-way. Laika lived only a few hours in orbit before dying from overheating in the cramped capsule. Her sacrifice was a major moment in space history - proving that living beings could survive the launch, the zero-g, and the radiation of space. A statue of her now stands in Moscow, honoring the small stray who flew before any human.
