Laika was the first living creature to orbit the Earth, marking a historic moment in space exploration. A stray dog from the streets of Moscow, she was chosen by Soviet scientists for her calm nature and resilience. On November 3, 1957, Laika flew aboard Sputnik 2, becoming a symbol of scientific achievement and sparking a global conversation on the ethics of using animals in research. Though she perished a few hours after launch, Laika’s legacy lives on as a pioneer who paved the way for human spaceflight.
