Fact of the Day

[Tugmistress]

On this day in 1957, the Soviet satellite Sputnik blasted into space as the first man-made object to leave Earth's atmosphere. A month later, the Soviets sent the dog Laika into space, the first living creature to enter Earth's orbit. In 2002, it was revealed that Laika died painfully only a few hours after take-off.

[northener]

Did the report give the cause of death? Just curious as I would have assumed that the most dangerous parts were launch and recovery.

[Tugmistress]

Quote ....
The dog Laika, the first living creature to orbit the Earth, did not live nearly as long as Soviet officials led the world to believe. The animal, launched on a one-way trip on board Sputnik 2 in November 1957, was said to have died painlessly in orbit about a week after blast-off.
Now, it has been revealed she died from overheating and panic just a few hours after the mission started.





Taken from here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2367681.stm)

[northener]

Strange, if it had been an astronaut I wouldn't be that bothered. People have choices, animals don't.

Whole new thread there.

[angela5]

People have choices, animals don't.



So true northener.