Recalling Laika, the first living creature to orbit the earth in Sputnik 2

Sub : sci

Sec : space sector

Context:

On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, marking a significant milestone in space exploration by sending the first living creature into orbit, a dog named Laika.
The flight, which was meant to test the safety of space travel for humans, ended up being a one-way trip for Laika.

About the Sputnik 2 mission:

Thes mission followed the successful launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, which was a simple satellite that emitted beeping signals.
The launch of the mission coincided with the 40th anniversary of Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution. Sputnik 2 remained in orbit for five months.

Laika: The first living creature in orbit

Laika was a stray dog picked up from the streets of Moscow just one week prior to the launch. Originally named Kudryavka, which means “Little Curly,” she was later renamed Laika, meaning “Husky” or “Barker” in Russian.
Weighing about 6 kg, Laika was chosen for her small size, calm demeanour, and obedience.
Soviet scientists preferred female dogs for their anatomical suitability for confinement during the mission, that are brightly coloured (so video footage of them would be clearer).

Objectives of sending Laika to space:

The primary objective of sending Laika into orbit was to gather data on how living organisms react to space conditions, such as microgravity and the stresses of space travel and analyse the ability to survive long periods of weightlessness.
Prior to human flights, both American and Soviet scientists employed animals, mainly monkeys, chimpanzees, and dogs in experiments to understand the physiological impacts of space travel.
Laika’s mission was intended to provide insights that would ultimately facilitate human space exploration.

Conditions of the Mission:

Laika was placed in a pressurized cabin equipped with a system for air regeneration, which provided oxygen and food in a gelatinized form.
Although the capsule allowed her some room to move, Laika experienced significant distress during the flight. Initial reports indicated that she was agitated.
Laika was not intended to return to Earth. It was estimated that she would run out of oxygen after about ten days. However, due to overheating in the capsule, it is believed she died within one to two days after the launch.

Mission outcome:

Despite her short life, Laika’s mission contributed valuable data on the effects of space travel on living beings. The success of Sputnik 2 helped pave the way for human spaceflight, culminating in Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight in 1961.