On November 3, 1957, Laika, a stray dog from the streets of Moscow, became the first living creature to orbit Earth. She was launched aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 at the height of the Cold ...

Before the first human could fly into space, the Soviet Union sent a total of 48 dogs into space to gain experience. Not every animal survived.

Laika the Russian stray was the first dog to orbit the Earth. She was sent into space on a flight in 1957 which had been timed to mark the anniversary of the Russian Revolution. She died after ...