Heart-wrenching story of dog Laika who was sent into space but never returned home

Heart-wrenching story of dog Laika who was sent into space but never returned homeThe Soviet stray dog named Laika became one of the first animals in space when she was launched aboard Sputnik 2 in 1957, but the heartbreaking mission was always one-wayCommentsNewsPaige Ingram, Jess Flaherty Senior News Reporter and Chloe Dobinson08:06, 11 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesLaika was found roaming the streets of Moscow and was thought to be three-years-old(Image: AFP Contributor, AFP via Getty Images)The heartbreaking story of Laika, the dog launched into space to orbit the Earth with no way home, has lately caused new grief online. Laika, a mixed breed from Russia, was simply one of many animals used in the tireless pursuit of human knowledge, as we strive to explore uncharted territories for a greater understanding of the universe.‌Despite the small dog's distinctive position as among the first animals in space, it provided scant solace as she blasted away from Earth, the sole passenger aboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft.‌The unsuspecting young pup, found roaming the streets of Moscow, was thought to be just three-years-old. Her gentle, affable nature led scientists to consider her a perfect candidate for their experiment.‌On November 3, 1957, following weeks of preparation that included adapting her to progressively smaller crates and cages, she was sent into low orbit.At that point, there was limited understanding about the effects of space travel on living creatures, and animal flights were regarded by engineers as an essential stepping stone to human missions.View 3 ImagesLaika was amongst the first animals in space aboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft(Image: UIG via Getty Images)‌Once the little stray was located, Soviet staff gave her multiple names including Kudryavka, Russian for 'Little Curly', Limonchik translating to 'Little Lemon', and Zhuchka, meaning 'Little Bug'.Laika, the Russian word for certain breeds resembling the husky, was the nam...