# Laika: First Living Being in Earth Orbit

> Soviet dog Laika became the first living creature to orbit Earth in 1957, dying hours after launch.
- Title: Laika: First Living Being in Earth Orbit · Infobae | Shortify
- Summary: Soviet dog Laika became the first living creature to orbit Earth in 1957, dying hours after launch.
- Keywords: laika, sputnik 2, unión soviética, moscú, space mission, dog, space exploration, 1957, animal test, argentina, Infobae
- Source: Infobae — https://infobae.com/historias/2026/11/06/la-historia-de-laika-el-primer-ser-vivo-en-orbitar-la-tierra-y-protagonista-de-una-mision-sin-retorno
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: laika, sputnik 2, unión soviética, moscú, space mission, dog, space exploration, 1957, animal test, argentina, news
## Soviet Dog Laika Launched
On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Laika, a stray dog from Moscow, into orbit aboard Sputnik 2.
## Mission Had No Return Plan
The mission did not include a return plan for Laika, who died hours after launch due to overheating.
## Cold War Space Race Accelerated
The launch accelerated the Cold War space race, with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev capitalizing on the success.
## Khrushchev's Urgent Directive
By mid-October, Khrushchev ordered a new launch for the November 7 anniversary of the October Revolution.
## Rushed Space Mission Design
Scientists had only weeks to design the spacecraft, leading to incomplete medical preparations.
## Serguei Koroliov's Background
Serguei Koroliov, the mission chief, previously designed intercontinental ballistic missiles.
## Laika's Selection Criteria
Stray dogs from Moscow were chosen for their tolerance to cramped spaces and physical resilience.
## Laika's Training
Laika trained for days to weeks in progressively smaller spaces, with medical evaluations of reactions.
## Laika's Death Cause
Laika died between five and seven hours after launch due to overheating in the capsule.
## Soviet Authorities' Claim
Soviet authorities claimed Laika survived days and died painlessly from oxygen depletion.
## Post-Mission Animal Rights Protests
Animal rights groups protested in London and New York over Laika's conditions.
## Later Space Missions Improved
Subsequent missions included return systems, with Belka and Strelka landing safely in August 1960.
## Laika's Legacy
Laika became a symbol of Soviet space exploration, appearing on stamps, cigarettes, and a 2008 monument.
## Key takeaway

Soviet dog Laika was the first living being to orbit Earth in 1957, dying hours after launch.