The First Dog in Space

[cali baker]

I saw this story on FB and was stunned. I had no idea that a Russian stray named Laika was the first dog sent into space. Her story saddened me. It happened almost 57 years ago and here is a link to what occurred:

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | First dog in space died within hours

Had anyone heard about Laika before?

 

[2BullyMama]

Yes, i remember hearing about it but do not remember details. Will have to look at your link when i get home

 

[Opie CHL]

I never knew that either..very interesting story! Poor Laika!

 

[cali baker]

These are some exercepts I found on an FB link re. Laika:


In November of 1997, a plaque commemorating the contributions of Laika and
other animals that were studied in the space program was unveiled at the
Institute for Aviation and Space Medicine at Star City, just outside Moscow. The
monument itself pays tribute to the fallen Russian cosmonauts, but in a corner
is the image of a small mongrel dog...ears standing straight. A year later, one
of the former lead scientists who had worked on the Soviet "animals-in-space"
program expressed his deep regrets regarding Laika:
"The more time passes, the more I'm sorry....
We shouldn't have
done it....
We did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of
the dog."