The Times of India

In 1957, a Moscow stray dog was sent into orbit, and her lonely flight paved the way for human space travel

In 1957, a stray dog named Laika became the first living being in orbit aboard Sputnik 2. Her mission, though tragic as she couldn't return, provided crucial data on animal survival in space. This sacrifice spurred advancements in life support systems and significantly influenced America's space program, paving the way for human spaceflight and the Moon landing.