Laika: The Stray Dog Who Became a Space Legend

From a stray dog on the streets of Moscow to the first living being to embark on a "suicidal" mission beyond Earth, Laika's journey into space aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957 remains one of the most poignant stories in space exploration history.

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union made history with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. Encouraged by this success, Soviet engineers rushed to build Sputnik 2, which featured a pressurized compartment designed to carry a dog into space. Weighing 508 kg—six times heavier than Sputnik 1—this spacecraft was intended to send the first living creature into orbit.

The decision to use a dog instead of a primate remains unclear. Some speculate that the pioneering research of Ivan Pavlov on canine physiology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries influenced this choice. Additionally, stray dogs were abundant on Soviet streets, making them an easily accessible option.

The Selection Process

Soviet experts specifically sought female stray dogs, as they were generally smaller and perceived as more docile. Initial tests assessed obedience and passivity, with successful candidates undergoing further trials that involved confinement in pressurized chambers for days and eventually weeks. The dogs were also tested for their reactions to fluctuating air pressure and the deafening noise of rocket launches.

To prepare them for space travel, Soviet scientists equipped the dogs with a sanitation device attached to their lower bodies. Many resisted using it, some even holding in waste despite the use of laxatives. Over time, however, some adapted to the setup.

Ultimately, Kudryavka (meaning "Little Curly") was chosen as the primary astronaut, while Albina (meaning "White") was designated as the backup. During a radio broadcast introducing the chosen dog to the public, Kudryavka barked—an act that led to her being renamed "Laika," derived from the Russian word for "bark." A three-year-old mixed-breed husky-spitz, Laika was about to make history.

Rumors suggest that Albina performed better in training but was spared the mission because she had recently given birth and had won the affection of the scientists. Regardless, both dogs underwent surgery to implant medical devices that monitored heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body movements.

The Mission

Three days before the launch, Laika was placed in the restricted space of her capsule, where she could only move a few inches. She was bathed, fitted with sensors, a sanitation device, and dressed in a custom-made space suit.

At 5:30 AM on November 3, 1957, Sputnik 2 launched. The intense noise and pressure terrified Laika, causing her heart rate to triple and her breathing rate to quadruple. Documents from the National Air and Space Museum indicate that her respiration remained elevated throughout the mission.

Laika successfully reached orbit and completed a full revolution around the Earth in approximately 103 minutes. However, an unexpected failure of the thermal insulation caused temperatures inside the capsule to soar.

"By the fourth orbit, the internal temperature had exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). It was highly unlikely that Laika could survive beyond one or two more orbits," stated Cathleen Lewis, curator of international space programs at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Even if all systems had functioned properly—providing Laika with sufficient food, water, and oxygen—her fate was sealed. Sputnik 2 was not designed for reentry, meaning she would have perished when the spacecraft disintegrated upon returning to Earth’s atmosphere. As it happened, Laika's ordeal ended much sooner due to the extreme heat. Sputnik 2 continued orbiting Earth for about five months, completing 2,570 orbits before burning up upon reentry.

Ethical Dilemmas and Legacy

At the time, concerns for animal welfare were not as pronounced as they are today, yet there were voices of protest even then. Many opposed sending Laika on a mission with no possibility of return, criticizing the Soviet Union for prioritizing progress over ethics. Despite this, Lewis argues that using animals in early space missions was a necessary step toward human spaceflight.

"There were many unknowns regarding high-altitude travel. Scientists did not know if humans would lose orientation in space or if astronauts could perform tasks effectively," Lewis explained.

Shortly after Laika’s mission, the Soviet Mint produced an enamel pin featuring her likeness to commemorate "The First Passenger in Space." Several Soviet allies, including Romania, Albania, and Poland, issued postage stamps honoring her between 1957 and 1987.

In March 2005, during NASA’s Mars exploration mission Opportunity, scientists informally named a location in a Martian crater after Laika. A decade later, in 2015, Russia erected a monument in her memory, depicting Laika standing atop a rocket outside a military research facility in Moscow.

Laika’s legacy endures as a testament to both the sacrifices made in the name of scientific progress and the ethical questions that accompany such endeavors. Today, her story continues to be shared through websites, documentaries, poetry, and literature. In the book Beastly Natures: Animals, Humans, and the Study of History, historian Amy Nelson describes how the Soviet Union transformed Laika into "a lasting symbol of sacrifice and human achievement."

Though she perished, Laika paved the way for future space exploration, proving that living beings could survive—at least temporarily—beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Her journey remains a powerful reminder of the cost of progress and the delicate balance between scientific ambition and ethical responsibility.