The Soviet stray dog named Laika became one of the first animals in space when she was launched aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957, but the heartbreaking mission was always one-way
The heartbreaking story of Laika, the dog launched into space to orbit the Earth with no way home, has lately caused new grief online. Laika, a mixed breed from Russia, was simply one of many animals used in the tireless pursuit of human knowledge, as we strive to explore uncharted territories for a greater understanding of the universe.
Despite the small dog’s distinctive position as among the first animals in space, it provided scant solace as she blasted away from Earth, the sole passenger aboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft.
The unsuspecting young pup, found roaming the streets of Moscow, was thought to be just three-years-old. Her gentle, affable nature led scientists to consider her a perfect candidate for their experiment.
On November 3, 1957, following weeks of preparation that included adapting her to progressively smaller crates and cages, she was sent into low orbit.
At that point, there was limited understanding about the effects of space travel on living creatures, and animal flights were regarded by engineers as an essential stepping stone to human missions.
Once the little stray was located, Soviet staff gave her multiple names including Kudryavka, Russian for ‘Little Curly’, Limonchik translating to ‘Little Lemon’, and Zhuchka, meaning ‘Little Bug’.
Laika, the Russian word for certain breeds resembling the husky, was the name that gained recognition worldwide.
The experiment aimed to demonstrate a living creature could withstand the traumatic forces associated with launching into orbit. Laika’s vital signs were meticulously monitored in the hope of confirming scientists’ theories that life could function in space amid reduced gravity and elevated radiation levels.
The data from her revealed indicators of distress and increased agitation throughout her voyage. Over five months after launch, Sputnik 2 – together with Laika’s remains – descended back through Earth’s atmosphere on April 14, 1958, incinerating upon re-entry. From this mission, researchers obtained groundbreaking information about the physiological effects of space travel through their work with Laika.
It was believed her on-board death occurred due to the central R‐7 sustainer’s failure to separate from the spacecraft. The Soviet Union allegedly provided contradictory accounts concerning her death, including claims she died merely seven hours into her mission.
Nevertheless, in 2002, the actual circumstances and timing of her death were ultimately disclosed, reflecting extensive reporting that she died after exhausting her oxygen supply on her sixth isolated day aboard the cramped spacecraft.
Laika’s tale re-emerged across social media, spotlighted once again by the popular page, Fantastic Things in the World. Alongside an image of a statue resembling Laika looking out from the spacecraft, the user behind the account wrote: “Every year… I feel compelled to tell this story and possibly do it with new words. There’s a deep guilt that all of us should feel reading what we did to Laika. Human progress has often been achieved at the expense of animals that had nothing to do with our desire for supremacy.
“Many people believe this was an acceptable price for our conquests, but it seems obvious, even reading this story, that it was really just a trivial form of prevarication.” The tribute concluded: “We had a duty to choose another path. We still have that duty today. Sorry humanity has failed you, Laika.”
This follows as Artemis II broke its radio silence with four historic words as it emerged from the Moon.
Orion emerged from behind the Moon right on schedule, with radio contact instantly restored – bringing to an end a tense 40-minute blackout which had left Mission Control waiting in complete silence.
Mission specialist Christina Koch was the first to speak. Her first four words were: “Houston, Integrity, comm check.” She then added: “It is so great to hear from Earth again.”
With no signal possible on the lunar far side, the capsule had been operating entirely independently. Computers aboard Orion fired the engines at precisely the right moment to propel the spacecraft onto a homeward trajectory – a manoeuvre carried out well beyond the reach of any ground controller.
Today, the crew reached its closest point to the Moon and will now head back towards Earth. The four astronauts became the furthest-flying humans in history, breaking the record of Apollo 13 set in 1970.
