Sputnik-2 or: Laika, Our Hero

In 1957, a Soviet street dog named Laika launched into space aboard Sputnik-2 and became the first animal to orbit the Earth. This is her story.

When the international press reported that the #Soviets sent a #dog into orbit, the public freaked. Not because #communism was beating democracy in the space race, but because how could anyone send a dog - alone - into #space. If there's one global commonality, it's this: everyone loves dogs. So, the Soviets spun the story. Laika, the #spacedog, became a national hero. Yes, she died on her one way mission. But, she gloriously orbited Earth for over a week until her eventual, peaceful death. And, because of #Laika's sacrifice, the Soviet space program was now years ahead of the Americans...

But, none of that was true.

Based on declassified Soviet space program documents as well as primary source #archive from back in the day, this is a revised version of Laika's one way trip. In her words. That is, approximately her words. She was a dog, after all.

VIDEO BY
TOM McNAMARA (@fieldguidetom)

VOICE OF LAIKA
ELENA V. LEVENSON