Sputnik 2 Launched

Sputnik 2 was launched by the Soviet Union on November 3, 1957, carrying Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, making her the first living creature to orbit Earth. The spacecraft weighed 1,120 pounds and was launched just one month after Sputnik 1, demonstrating Soviet technological prowess during the Space Race. Laika's vital signs were monitored during the flight, providing crucial data about the effects of spaceflight on living organisms. Tragically, Laika died within hours of launch from overheating and stress, though Soviet officials claimed she survived for days. The mission was never designed for recovery, making Laika's journey a one-way trip. Sputnik 2 orbited Earth for 162 days before burning up in the atmosphere on April 14, 1958. This historic mission paved the way for human spaceflight and raised important ethical questions about animal testing in space exploration.