The first creature to orbit the earth (apart from aliens, of course) wasn't a person, but a dog. Tragically, this first flight wasn't a story of ground-breaking innovation, but of tragedy. Used for propaganda by both America and the USSR, this is the true story of Laika, the canine cosmonaut.

A Space Spectacular

Музей космонавтики / Главархив Москвы on Wikimedia

Contrary to popular belief, Laika wasn't the first animal in space. In fact, she wasn't even the first dog! Fruit flies, monkeys, and mice had all made the trip to space in the first decades of exploration. Six years before Laika, two dogs named Tsygan and Dezik were successfully launched and recovered from spaceflight.

However, the Soviets had bigger dreams for Laika. Khrushchev ordered the hasty construction and launch of Sputnik 2, a "space spectacular" on the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution. Now, all they needed was a passenger for the satellite.

An Unlikely Astronaut

unknown - likely Soviet space program on Wikimedia

Found wandering the streets of Moscow, Laika was chosen for spaceflight under the assumption that she was tough enough to endure cold and hunger. Approximately three years old at the time of her flight, Laika was a mongrel, likely of husky-samoyed pedigree. "Laika" literally means "barker".

She was reportedly very calm and played well with other dogs during her space training. To keep her calm in Sputnik 2's cabin, Laika was kept in progressively smaller cages, as well as a centrifuge to simulate acceleration. She, and other canine cosmonauts were also fitted with a sort of doggy diaper to collect waste, which were almost universally disliked.

From the moment the project was conceived, scientists knew that Laika would not come home. Heat shields hadn't been perfected. Laika was expected to painlessly succumb to oxygen deprivation after a week in orbit. An alternate plan was to euthanize her with a poisoned meal.

Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.

The Patron Saint Of One-Way Trips

Post of Albania on Wikimedia

Prior to the launch, one of the scientists took Laika home to play with his children, saying he "wanted to do something nice for her". For one night Laika was just another stray who found a loving home. She had no way to anticipate her fate.

Due to delays, Laika was placed in her capsule three days before the mission started. Nonetheless, she was kept clean and warm prior to liftoff. Before the hatch closed for the final time, technicians "kissed her nose and wished her bon voyage, knowing that she would not survive the flight."

At 5:30 a.m. on November 3, 1957 Laika achieved liftoff. While Laika did not have enough space to turn around, she did have a window to look out of. Teriffied, her heart and breathing rates elevated as she reached orbit.

It took Laika less than two hours to orbit Earth. Unfortunately, she didn't have much time to enjoy the view.

Rather than succumbing to oxygen deprivation as planned, Laika overheated. The heat shield in her capsule came loose and temperatures skyrocketed to 104°F. After five hours, there were no signs of life.

A Martyr For The Cause

Colectivul Dumitrana on Wikimedia

Obviously, it was a bad look for the occupant of the first successful orbit to have died scared, hungry, and overheated. Especially as things did not go according to plan. So, the Soviet Union obfuscated the truth.

Broadcasts claimed that Laika was alive for a week; some claimed that she might be saved. Nobody knew what really happened to Laika. The mission was, by all accounts, a success as it proved that humans would be able to survive space flight and orbit earth, provided they worked out a few problems.

It was only in 2002 that the truth finally came out. When Sputnik 2 burned up during re-entry five months later, it took Laika's ashes with it.

Laika has been memorialized in statues, stamps, and songs.

space spectacular