Laika: The First Living Creature to Orbit Earth

Q: Named “Laika” what was the first living creature to orbit Earth?

A: Dog

Laika: The First Living Creature to Orbit Earth

On November 3, 1957, a small stray dog from the streets of Moscow made history—and sacrificed her life—for science. Her name was Laika, and she became the first living creature to orbit Earth aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2.

Laika was chosen for her calm temperament and small size, ideal for the cramped capsule. Her mission marked a milestone in the Space Race, proving that a living organism could survive launch and experience weightlessness in orbit. Sadly, the technology to return her safely to Earth didn’t exist yet. Laika died a few hours after launch, likely due to overheating, but her mission paved the way for human spaceflight.

Laika’s story is both heroic and tragic. She’s remembered not just as a scientific pioneer, but as a symbol of courage and sacrifice in humanity’s journey to the stars. Her legacy endures in space history, reminding us of the countless lives—human and animal—that helped make exploration beyond Earth possible.