Laika became the first dog to orbit Earth 69 years ago. Decades later, a scientist revealed what really happened hust hours after launch

Laika was a stray dog living on streets of Moscow when Soviet scientists selected her for a mission. On November 3 1957, she became first animal to orbit Earth after being launched aboard Sputnik 2. But while the Soviet Union celebrated the achievement, Laika had little time in space. She died just hours after the launch.

The Soviet authorities initially claimed that she had survived for several days. It took until 2002 for the truth to emerge. Russian scientist Dimitri Malashenkov revealed that Laika had died five to seven hours after liftoff because of overheating and stress inside the spacecraft.

Her flight came at a time when the Soviet Union was racing to make advances in space exploration. The mission succeeded in putting the first animal into orbit but it also exposed the risks of sending a living creature into space without a way to bring it home.

How Laika Was Chosen for the Historic Space Flight

Laika was picked up from the streets of Moscow. Soviet scientists preferred stray dogs for their space experiments because they believed the animals were better able to cope with difficult conditions.

She was also trained before being selected for Sputnik 2. Scientists prepared her for limited space inside the capsule and fitted her with sensors to monitor her condition during the flight.

As per a Britannica report, the mission followed the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, which became the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth. Less than a month later, the Soviet Union was preparing another launch, this time with a dog aboard.

Laika's flight took place on November 3, 1957 and she was placed inside Sputnik 2 and sent into orbit, making history as the first animal to circle the planet.

There was, however, no plan to bring her back. The spacecraft had been developed under a tight deadline, and engineers had not managed to build a system that could return Laika safely to Earth.

Laika Died Just Hours After the Sputnik 2 Launch

Laika survived the launch, but problems inside the capsule soon put her life at risk. Sensors recorded her heartbeat and breathing as the spacecraft travelled around Earth.

The spacecraft's cooling system failed, allowing temperatures inside the cabin to rise. Problems with the separation of the rocket's booster stage also affected its temperature balance, while damaged insulation made conditions worse.

The Soviet Union initially told the public that Laika had survived for several days. That account was later contradicted by scientific findings.

In October 2002, Malashenkov revealed that Laika had died approximately five to seven hours after liftoff. Make Tech Easier reported on his research, which identified overheating and stress as the causes.

The findings showed that Laika had died on the same day she was launched, rather than surviving in orbit for several days as Soviet reports had suggested.

Why Sputnik 2 Could Not Bring Laika Back

Sputnik 2 was built in a short period following the success of Sputnik 1. Soviet engineers had little time to prepare the spacecraft, and it was not equipped with a system to return Laika to Earth.

Her mission was intended to study how a living animal responded to spaceflight. But the lack of a return mechanism meant that she could not survive the journey back.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty report, Laika completed four orbits before dying. And Sputnik 2 continued circling Earth after her death and eventually burned up during atmospheric reentry in April 1958.

The mission's original account left out the actual circumstances of Laika's death. Malashenkov's findings, released decades later, gave a clearer picture of what had happened during the flight.

Laika's Death Stayed With the Scientists Who Sent Her Into Space

Laika's death was not something everyone involved in the mission could easily forget. Oleg Gazenko, the scientist who selected her, later expressed regret over the decision, saying, "the more time passes, the more I'm sorry about it. We shouldn't have done it.... We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog," as quoted by RFE/RL.

The Soviet Union continued sending dogs into space. Then in 1960, Belka & Strelka travelled into orbit and returned safely to Earth.

However Laika remained the most widely remembered of the Soviet space dogs. Her story appeared in films, songs, postage stamps and Moscow even unveiled a monument in her honour in 2008.