Laika: The First Dog to Orbit Earth and Her Tragic Journey
Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, became the first animal to orbit Earth aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 in 1957. Despite the mission's significance in advancing space exploration, Laika's journey was a one-way trip, and she died from overheating and panic shortly after launch. Her mission provided crucial data on the effects of space travel on living organisms, contributing to the Soviet Union's progress in the Space Race. Sputnik 2 eventually disintegrated upon re-entry after 162 days in orbit.