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Laika becomes first animal to orbit Earth aboard Soviet Sputnik 2

On Nov. 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Laika aboard Sputnik 2, making the dog the first animal to orbit Earth. The spacecraft lifted off from Baikonur atop an R-7 rocket, marking a milestone in early spaceflight.

Discovered 2026-11-03T07:28:17.141160-08:00 | 2026-11-03T07:28:17.141160-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

Laika’s flight was an early milestone in orbital spaceflight and a landmark in the use of living subjects in space research.
Sputnik 2’s launch followed the Soviet Union’s first Sputnik mission, illustrating the rapid pace of early space development.

Reported By

Space.com flight.com.gr