The first animal to journey into space was a dog named Laika, a Soviet space dog who was launched aboard the Soviet satellite Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957.
Laika's mission was part of the Soviet Union's early space program, which aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of sending living organisms into orbit. Although Laika's flight was a significant scientific achievement, it is important to note that she did not survive the mission. The spacecraft's heat shield failed, causing the temperature inside the capsule to rise to fatal levels.
Laika's sacrifice helped pave the way for future space exploration and contributed to our understanding of the effects of space travel on living organisms. Her story remains a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in the pursuit of scientific progress.
