The Economic Times

Laika became the first dog to orbit Earth 69 years ago. Decades later, a scientist revealed what really happened hust hours after launch

Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 in November 1957. While the mission made history, the stray dog died just hours after liftoff. A Russian scientist revealed the actual circumstances of her death in 2002, challenging the Soviet Union's earlier account of the mission.