
Laika: The First Orbital Space Dog's Tragic Journey
Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, became the first living being to orbit Earth on November 3, 1957, as part of the Soviet space program. Despite the mission's historical significance, Laika's journey ended tragically as she died from panic and overheating just hours after launch, contrary to initial claims that she survived for days. Her remains were incinerated upon re-entry in April 1958. Laika's story highlights the ethical challenges of early space exploration.


