Laika was launched into orbit by the Soviet space scientists to test the life expectancy in outer space. The Soviet media initially claimed she survived for several days in space, but decades later, ...

Canine cosmonaut Laika rests comfortably inside the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 before being blasted into orbit in 1957.Credit ...

Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, became the first living creature to orbit Earth aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957. Her one-way mission ...

The heart-wrenching tale of Laika, the dog sent into space to circle the earth with no return ticket, has recently reignited sadness online. Laika, a mixed breed from Russia, was one of countless ...

In the late 1950s, Moscow’s streets were full of stray dogs that adapted to freezing nights and scarce food. One small mixed‑breed stood out to Soviet researchers for her calm nature and size. She was ...

On November 3, 1957, a Soviet space dog named Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth. Laika was a 3-year-old stray husky-spitz mix from the streets of Moscow, and she was recruited by the Soviet ...

1. A path of burning light -- 2. Animals in the heavens -- 3. The making of a space dog -- 4. Scouting the atmosphere -- 5. A face in the window -- 6. First around the Earth -- Epilogue Summary The ...