Laika (dog in context of space and espionage)

Laika was a Soviet space dog and one of the first animals to orbit Earth, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. Laika's mission, launched in 1957 aboard Sputnik 2, aimed to assess how living organisms respond to spaceflight, providing vital data for human space travel. Although she died a few hours after launch due to limited life support, her journey demonstrated the feasibility of sending living creatures into space. Laika's mission advanced space technology and sparked global interest, laying groundwork for future human exploration, and also highlighted ethical considerations regarding animal testing in scientific research.