Laika The First Dog In Space: A Brave Little Hero

 

Laika the dog was a stray who wandered into the grounds of the Soviet research institute in Moscow, Russia. She was quickly discovered by scientists there and had many tests carried out on her to see if she would make a suitable candidate for space travel. 

The scientists found that Laika was a perfect fit for their experiments and launched her into space as part of Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. Laika became the first dog in space and paved the way for future space exploration with animals by testing their ability to withstand the stresses and strains of such long distance travels. Laika was not just any old dog though, but one that had already suffered unkindness from humans before she even got on board the rocket. 

 

Before she became famous as the first dog in space, she had been locked up at an animal shelter where she contracted parvo virus – a disease so deadly that it is almost always fatal to dogs. She probably would have died from this disease anyway even if she hadn’t been sent into space. 

But what choice did they have? If you think about it, sending her into orbit was almost merciful because having that happen to you would be worse than dying alone in some concrete cell somewhere…

 

 

Who was Laika?

Laika was a stray dog found wandering around the grounds of the Soviet research institute in Moscow, Russia. It is likely that Laika was dumped there by someone who couldn’t take care of her anymore. The team of scientists working at the institute decided to take Laika in and test her for her suitability for space travel. They found that Laika was a good candidate for such a mission and decided to put her on board the Sputnik 2 mission. 

 

The scientists used Laika to test the effects of space travel on living creatures and study the effects of cosmic radiation on living organisms. They were also interested in learning more about the effects of weightlessness on organisms. This is why the scientists didn’t even try to bring her back alive. They sent her into space with food and water enough for only a few days, as they expected her to die in the course of the mission.

 

How did Laika become the first dog in space?

Laika was chosen to be the first dog in space because of her small size, her friendly, easy going temperament, and the fact that she was already suffering from an incurable disease. 

Additionally, Laika was a stray dog, meaning that she didn’t have an owner who would miss her and be upset because she was sent into space, which made her the perfect candidate for this experiment. 

The scientists decided to test the effects of space travel on living creatures and study the effects of cosmic radiation on living organisms by sending Laika into space on the Sputnik 2 mission. They were also interested in learning more about the effects of weightlessness on organisms. This is why the scientists didn’t even try to bring her back alive. They sent her into space with enough food and water for only a few days, as they expected her to die in the course of the mission.

What happened to Laika after her historic space mission?

After the mission, Laika was put into a capsule with sufficient food and water. She was also fitted with sensors to monitor her heartbeat and blood pressure. The scientists expected her to survive the 10-day long journey, but they didn’t expect her to survive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

As the capsule re-entered the atmosphere, the scientists expected Laika to die in the heat of the re-entry and the pressure of the atmosphere. 

They didn’t expect her to die from carbon dioxide poisoning. On the third day of the mission, the capsule’s automatic control system failed and the scientists lost contact with it. They expected the capsule to burn up in the atmosphere soon after, with Laika still inside.She was the first animal to orbit the Earth, but her death highlights the cruelty of using animals in space exploration.

 

The Sputnik 2 Mission:Laika Mission

The Sputnik 2 mission was the first ever space mission with animals on board. The mission was launched on November 3, 1957 and sent a spacecraft into orbit around the Earth. A dog named Laika was included in the mission and became the first dog in space.

The purpose of the mission was to study the effects of weightlessness on organisms and to test the ability of organisms to withstand cosmic radiation. Laika’s mission was short: she only survived for 10 days and died from carbon dioxide poisoning after her capsule’s automatic control system failed. Her capsule burned up in the atmosphere soon after.

The legacy of Laika

The Sputnik 2 mission was the first-ever launch with animals on board. The mission sent a spacecraft into orbit around the Earth and included a dog named Laika. 

Laika, the first dog in space, was launched into orbit on Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957. She became an international celebrity and her name was a household word. Laika died within hours of launch from overheating, but her legacy lived on.

Laika's story captured the public imagination and she quickly became a symbol of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. She was also one of the first animals to be sends into orbit and her death highlighted the risks associated with space travel. Despite her tragic end, Laika's legacy continues to inspire people who dream of reaching for the stars.

 

Conclusion

Laika was the first dog in space, but she wasn’t the first living organism to be sent into space. This distinction belongs to the fruit fly that was sent into space on August 16, 1946. 

However, they weren’t sent into orbit around the planet as Laika was. After the Sputnik 2 mission, many other missions were carried out with animals on board. These missions studied the effects of different aspects of space travel on living organisms. 

This paved the way for future space exploration with animals by testing their ability to withstand the stresses and strains of such long distance travels.