In November 1957, the Soviet Union launched Laika aboard Sputnik 2, proving that a living being could survive launch and reach orbit. The mission had no reentry plan, and Laika died hours later from overheating and stress, becoming a tragic symbol of the early space race. | SpaceEve

109K views · 1.6K reactions | It's 60 years since #Sputnik2 was launched carrying the world's first astronaut, #Laika, a street dog into space! | Indiatimes | Facebook

Laika was the brave little dog sent into space aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957, making her the first living creature to orbit Earth. But because technology at that time couldn’t bring spacecraft safely back, Laika never returned. Her capsule stayed in orbit for a few months before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere and burning up, which means her body is not still floating in space today. Her mission remains one of the most emotional and heartbreaking milestones in space exploration, reminding the world of