Laika

Laika was a stray dog from Moscow who became the first living organism to orbit Earth, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. Her mission aboard Sputnik 2 marked a major milestone in space exploration, demonstrating that living beings could survive space travel conditions. Though her journey highlighted the brave sacrifices of early scientific efforts, Laika’s death also raised ethical questions about animal testing. Her voyage paved the way for human spaceflight, ultimately contributing to advancements in space technology and human space missions.