Belka and Strelka went up in 1960 on Sputnik 5 and were returned safely
after a day in orbit. Strelka later gave birth to a litter of six puppies,
one of which was given to JFK as a gift. Laika (Russian for Barker) was
alive for a week in Sputnik 2 and then the capsule re-entered a few months
later and burned up, destroying her remains. She was not a Laika, but
simply a mutt who bore that name.
There were a few dogs who died in the Russian space program, but only Laika
was killed intentionally. Lisichka (Little Fox) and Bars (Panther or Lynx)
were killed during a test flight in July of 1960. Pchelka (Little Bee) and
Mushka (Little Fly) were killed when their capsule re-entered at the wrong
angle and burned up in late 1960. Damka (Little Lady) and Krasavka
(Beauty) were returned safely after a malfunction caused the SL-3 rocket to
fail. The orbital launch was aborted and they survived the unplanned
orbital flight.
-James
>> You are not forgotten, Comrade Laika!
>> This weekend marks the 44th anniversary of Laika's death. She was a simple
>> stray dog from the streets of Moscow who became the first creature to be
>> sent into space and the only one sent into space with no plans for return.
>
>Her name was Belka , which translates as Squirrel .
>Laika is the name of the bread , equivalent of Siberian Husky.
>The second dog's name was Strelka , which translates as Arrow.
>I believe they both died.
You are not forgotten, Comrade Laika!
This weekend marks the 44th anniversary of Laika's death. She was a simple
stray dog from the streets of Moscow who became the first creature to be
sent into space and the only one sent into space with no plans for return.
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