You’ve probably heard of Laika, the Soviet dog that was sent into space aboard Sputnik 2. Have you ever thought about what happened to her? Most of us just mention these things in passing as we cover the Space Race. But animals in space? Don’t pass up this chance to use it to engage your students. Laika’s story is sure to pique the interest of almost anyone.
A dog in space? It sounds kind of comical, right? But the reality of the situation was far from comical. Laika’s flight into space ended up being very stressful on her as evidenced by the fact that her heart rate was triple the normal rate! Soviet scientists knew that she would die; they just didn’t expect her to die the way she did. Reports were circulated that Laika would die a quick and painless death by asphyxiation when the oxygen ran out. However, the Soviets didn’t expect the temperature control system to malfunction. The cabin overheated and Laika died from the heat. The Soviets released false reports that Laika lived several days in space, and the truth about the flight was not revealed until many decades later. Even now, Laika’s story stirs up controversy about the use of animals in research. You can read more about Laika and her training in this fascinating article.