The heartbreaking story of Laika, the first space dog: A sacrifice that changed space exploration
When technology and research were limited and humans themselves were not ready for space travel, scientists in the Soviet Union chose animals for experiments. In this effort, on November 3, 1957, Laika, a stray dog picked up from the streets of Moscow, became the first living creature to orbit the Earth. However, this historic event was associated with a tragic end.
Space race between the Soviet Union and the US
Laika being sent into space was not just a scientific achievement but was part of the growing space race between the Soviet Union and the US. After the success of Sputnik, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev decided to mark a major achievement on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the October Revolution. Due to the limitations of sending humans into space, scientists chose animals for the experiment.
The three-year-old dog, a mix of Samoyed and Terrier breed, was given special training for the space mission. She was trained to eat jelly-like food and spin in a centrifuge to simulate gravity changes.
On 3 November 1957, Laika launched into space and the incident immediately became a topic of international discussion. However, it was not planned from the beginning that Laika would be brought back alive. Soviet officials at the time claimed that Laika survived for six to seven days and completed the mission.
In 2002, Russian scientist Dmitry Malashenkov revealed that Laika had survived for only 5 to 7 hours. She succumbed to extreme heat and suffocation. NASA scientists also confirmed the theory that poor thermal control systems and bursting of insulation during launch caused excessive heat in the spacecraft.
Laika never returned to Earth. Her remains were destroyed during entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on 14 April 1958. However, despite this tragic end, Soviet scientists continued to experiment on dogs in space. Eventually, in 1960, dogs named Belka and Strelka became the first living creatures to return safely from Earth orbit.
Laika’s legacy
Laika’s story not only reflects the progress of science, it also raises questions about animal sacrifice. This incident reminds us how behind the achievements of mankind, there are untold stories. Laika’s sacrifice proved to be a milestone in space exploration and paved the way for humanity’s dreams to reach new heights.
