Laika was one of the most influential figures in the space race between the USA and the Soviet Union.
Just a common dog from the streets of Moscow, Laika wrote her name in the history books on November 3rd, 1957 as she became the first living creature to orbit Earth.
First animals in Space
From the mid 1950s to the mid 1970s, the United States and the Soviet Union battled it out in what we now call the space race.
In February of 1947, fruit flies became the first animals in space when the United States sent them on a suborbital mission.
The Soviet Union retaliated by sending the first dogs into space in 1951, two dogs named Dezik and Tsygan.
However, in November of 1957, Laika’s name would be forever imprinted in the history books.
Soviet scientists wanted to get a better understanding of how launches, microgravity, and spaceflight affects the human body. So they went out to the streets of Moscow and took in dogs that they thought would be suitable for the mission.
The dog that they selected had to also be female as they were easier to attach equipment to, and brightly coloured as they would be easier to identify in video footage. They also had to be obedient and tolerant of loud noises.
The dog that they ended up choosing was Laika, a simple black and white dog.
She was originally called Kudrayavka, but was later renamed to Laika after she barked during a radio interview. Laika means Barker in Russian. However, the scientists also chose another dog as a backup, called Albina.
It is theorised that Laika was the scientists’ first choice as Albina recently gave birth to puppies.
Laika, the first living animal in space. Credit: Sputnik / Alamy
The Sputniks
On October the 4th, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, a 83 kilogram (184 lb) sphere the size of a beach ball. The sphere emitted beeps while it orbited Earth, which were heard all around the world.
A month later, on November 3rd, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2.
Apparently the launch of Sputnik 2 was rushed in order to correspond with the anniversary of the Bolshevik revolution, which ultimately led to the creation of the Soviet Union.
Sputnik 2 is larger than its predecessor with a height of 4 meters (13 feet), width of 6.5 meters, and a weight of 508 kgs (1120 lbs).
It was also more advanced than its predecessor, carrying scientific equipment used for measuring solar radiation and cosmic rays.
It also had a enclosed cabin for Laika, who was equipped with a video camera as well. Laika weighed six kilograms at the time of the launch.
The mission
Within the cabin, Laika was free to either sit or lie down.
The cabin was padded for comfort and was equipped with an air regeneration system.
Laika also had easy access to food and water, both of which were in a gelatinous form.
Attached to Laika was a harness which carried a sanitation device and electrodes.
From the outset, the scientists knew that Sputnik 2 was a suicide mission for the dog. The scientists never designed for it to return safely to Earth as they didn’t want to delay the launch.
Laika was equipped with a harness, sanitation device, and a set of electrodes. Credit: ICARUS FILMS.
Telemetry data showed that Laika survived the launch.
And although agitated, she seemed to be consuming her food and water.
Laika would eventually survive for four days in space.
She passed away when the cabin overheated due to the thermal control system failing.
Sputnik 2 ran out of battery a week later on November 10, and stopped sending data back to Earth.
Sputnik continued to orbit Earth for nearly six months until April 14, 1958, when it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and broke up in a fiery trail during its re-entry.
Laika’s name will be forever written in the history books for her role in helping man get to space and beyond.
