Laika Space Dog Breed and the Dogs That Went to Space

Laika, the Soviet space dog, was a stray Mongrel dog who became the first living creature to orbit the Earth in 1957. Laika was a mix of the Central Asian Shepherd and the Samoyed breeds, but her exact breed is unknown.

Laika's spaceflight was a historic event, but it's also a reminder that many dogs have played a crucial role in space exploration. Laika was not the only dog to go to space, however.

In fact, several other dogs were launched into space as part of the Soviet space program, including Belka and Strelka, who became the first dogs to survive a trip to space and return safely to Earth in 1960.

For your interest: Laika First Dog

The Laika space dog breed underwent rigorous training to prepare them for space travel.

They were trained to stand still for long periods of time, which would help them remain calm in the cramped space module.

Dogs that flew in orbit were fed a nutritious jelly-like protein to assist with digestion during long periods of time.

For your interest: Boarding Dog for First Time

Laika was chosen for her exceptional capacity for endurance and tolerance during pre-flight training.

Her striking appearance, with light color and dark brown spots on her face, made her a good candidate for the mission.

Her image reproduced well in black-and-white photographs and film footage, which was an important factor for the historically significant launch.

The launch would be meticulously recorded, and Laika's image would be a key part of that documentation.

Training was a crucial aspect of preparing animals for space travel. Dogs were trained to stand still for long periods of time.

They also had to wear space suits to prepare them for the harsh conditions of space. This included wearing suits that would protect them from extreme temperatures and lack of oxygen.

Dogs were placed in simulators that mimicked the intense forces of a rocket launch, helping them get accustomed to the intense acceleration. Centrifuges were used to simulate the high-G forces that the dogs would experience during liftoff.

For more insights, see: Laika the Space Dog Body

To prepare them for the confined space of the spacecraft, dogs were kept in progressively smaller cages. This helped them get used to the cramped quarters and reduced anxiety.

Dogs that flew in orbit were fed a special nutritious jelly-like protein to help them stay healthy during the mission. This protein was high in fiber, which assisted them in defecating during long periods of time in their small space module.

More than 60% of dogs to enter space were reportedly suffering from constipation and gallstones on arrival back to base.

A different take: Space Dog Names

Laika was a street dog from Moscow who was chosen for the Soviet space programme due to her resilience and hardiness, essential qualities for withstanding space aviation.

Laika and two other dogs were trained to eat a nutritional jelly-like substance, which would be their food substitute for the trip, and were kept in a cage to prepare for their adventure.

The Soviet space programme initially used female dogs because they were generally smaller and more placid, and eliminated the problem of what to do with a cocked leg inside a rocket.

Laika's mission was never intended to be a round trip, and she died early on into the mission, suffocating within the first several hours due to a lack of oxygen.

Belka and Strelka, two more strays, survived an orbit of Earth in 1960 and were rewarded with all the sausage they could eat upon their return, becoming cultural icons and adored by the Soviet masses.

The space dogs were often female, as they were better suited to space travel due to the lack of space for male dogs to relieve themselves.

Laika, a stray dog from Moscow's streets, was launched into space on November 3, 1957, aboard Sputnik 2.

Laika was chosen for her resilience and hardiness, which were essential for withstanding the grueling conditions of space aviation.

Female dogs were preferred over male dogs because they were smaller and more placid, eliminating the problem of a cocked leg inside a rocket.

Laika's mission was never intended to be a round trip, as there wasn't enough time to plan for the rocket's safe return.

Sputnik 2 orbited Earth 2,570 times before combusting in the atmosphere in April 1958.

Laika died early on into the mission, suffocating within the first several hours due to a lack of oxygen.

Laika's death was initially hushed over, with early reports claiming she had died by various means, including ethical euthanasia.

Laika's mission paved the way for future Soviet space endeavors and research, including the successful mission completed by Belka and Strelka in 1960.

Belka and Strelka, two more stray dogs, survived an orbit of Earth and were rewarded with all the sausage they could eat upon their return.

Recommended read: Strelka Space Dog

The problem of feeding the dogs in zero-gravity was solved by bonding nutrients with agar, a jelly-like substance.

This "jelly" could then be easily consumed, minimizing waste.

The dogs' suits had special receptacles for urine and feces, but they struggled to use them.

The dogs prefer to relieve themselves outdoors, never inside a room or a cockpit, and certainly not inside clothes.

Only a few dogs took to using the receptacles easily, so they were selected for orbital flights.

All the dogs on orbital flights were exclusively female, which made it easier for them to relieve themselves in space.

Albina and Tsyganka were two dogs who were ejected from a capsule at an altitude of 85 km (53 mi).

Albina was one of the dogs shortlisted for Sputnik 2, but never flew in orbit.

Tsyganka, also known as "Gypsy girl", landed safely after being ejected.

Both Albina and Tsyganka were part of a notable space mission, but the details of their experiences are limited to their ejection and landing.

Damka and Krasavka were two dogs that were set to make an orbital flight on December 22, 1960, as part of the Vostok programme.

The upper-stage rocket failed, causing the craft to re-enter the atmosphere after reaching a sub-orbital apogee of 214 km.

The dogs were still in the intact capsule when it returned to the surface, and the backup self-destruct mechanism was set to a 60-hour timer.

A team was quickly sent out to locate and recover the capsule, which they reached in deep snow on the first day.

The team could only report that the window was frosted over in the -45°F (-43°C) temperatures and no signs of life were detected.

On the second day, however, the dogs were heard barking as the capsule was opened, and they were found wrapped in sheepskin coats.

The dogs were flown to Moscow alive, but all the mice aboard the capsule were found dead due to the cold.

Krasavka went on to have puppies and lived with Oleg Gazenko and his family until her death 14 years later.

Sergey Korolyov, the designer of the rocket, wanted to make the story public but was prevented from doing so by state censorship.

Pchyolka and Mushka spent a day in orbit on 1 December 1960 on board Korabl-Sputnik-3 (Sputnik 6).

Mushka was one of the three dogs trained for Sputnik 2.

Pchyolka and Mushka were on board with other animals, plants, and insects.

Mushka refused to eat properly during ground tests for Sputnik 2.

Their spacecraft was intentionally destroyed by remote self-destruct to prevent foreign powers from inspecting the capsule.

Veterok and Ugolyok, two brave canine cosmonauts, were launched on 22 February 1966 on board Cosmos 110.

They spent an impressive 21 days in orbit before landing on 16 March.

Their record-breaking spaceflight lasted longer than any human spaceflight mission until 1971.

The two dogs experienced cardiovascular deconditioning, dehydration, weight loss, loss of muscle, and coordination issues during their time in space.

It took them several weeks to fully recover from these effects.

Suggestion: 2 Pit Bulls

Laika, the first space dog, was launched into space on Sputnik 2 in 1958, marking a pivotal moment in Soviet space exploration. The mission was a suborbital flight, but it paved the way for future space endeavors.

The Soviet space program used street dogs like Laika for their missions because they believed these canines had the resilience required for space exploration. Laika was a stray found on Moscow's streets.

Laika's mission was not intended to be a round trip, and unfortunately, she died early on into the mission due to suffocation within the first several hours. The truth about her death was initially hushed over, but it was later revealed in 2002.

Belka and Strelka, two more strays, survived an orbit of Earth in 1960 and were rewarded with all the sausage they could eat upon their return, becoming cultural icons in the process.

The first dogs to make a sub-orbital flight were Dezik and Tsygan on August 15, 1951, reaching a maximum altitude of 110 km.

Both Dezik and Tsygan were recovered unharmed after their flight, a remarkable feat considering the technology at the time.

Dezik made another sub-orbital flight in 1951 with the first dog named Lisa, although unfortunately, neither survived due to a parachute failure.

The Soviet space programme was a groundbreaking era in space exploration, and it's fascinating to look back at how they approached it. Laika, a stray dog from Moscow's streets, was one of the first animals to be sent into space, aboard the Sputnik 2 rocket in 1958.

Laika was chosen for her resilience and hardiness, which were essential for withstanding the gruelling conditions of space aviation. Female dogs were preferred over male dogs due to their smaller size and more placid nature.

Laika's mission was never intended to be a round trip, and she died early on into the mission, suffocating within the first several hours. This tragic event was initially hushed over, but it paved the way for future Soviet space endeavours and research.

The Soviet space programme's use of stray dogs had a profound impact on the public's perception of these animals. After Belka and Strelka's successful flight in 1960, Soviet schools initiated lessons on how to be kind to stray dogs on the street, and the price of mixed-breed puppies doubled at the Bird Market in Moscow.

Belka and Strelka's heroic mission was celebrated by the Soviet people, and they became cultural icons, symbolizing the ideal of sacrificing oneself for the sake of humanity.

The USSR publicized their space experiments in June 1957, announcing the first three dogs' names: Kozyavka, Linda, and Malyshka. These dogs had flown to the edge of space, 110 kilometers above the Earth.

These early space dogs paved the way for the first orbital flight by a living being: Laika. Laika was a significant step in the Soviet space program.

The Soviet publicity machine used the success of these space dogs to demonstrate their safety. They showed that the dogs could give birth to healthy puppies after their space flights, which was crucial for the next step: putting a man into space.

One puppy, named Pushkina, was even given as a gift to President John F. Kennedy's daughter by General Secretary Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev.

The public reaction to Laika, the space dog, was extraordinary. Soviet schools initiated lessons on how to be kind to stray dogs on the street.

The successful flight of Belka and Strelka had a profound impact on Soviet citizens, who began writing letters to the government volunteering themselves to be sent into space. Requests for permission to fly into orbit increased immeasurably following their successful landing.

The space dogs became an ideal for Soviet citizens, symbolizing the perfect human quality: to sacrifice oneself for the sake of humanity.

Belka & Strelka's return was met with widespread celebration in the Soviet Union. They were featured on radio and television, and their portraits were plastered in newspapers and magazines.

The dogs were treated like celebrities, with politicians and celebrities alike clamoring to be photographed with them. They even got to meet with schoolchildren, who were thrilled to meet the famous canines.

Their portraits were everywhere, from chocolates to matchboxes, postcards to lapel badges, and even postage stamps. They were even dressed up in adorable red and green spacesuits for the occasion.

The Soviet government's shift in opinion towards stray dogs was quite remarkable. After Belka and Strelka's flight, Soviet schools initiated lessons on how to be kind to stray dogs on the street.

This newfound appreciation for strays was reflected in the market prices of mixed-breed puppies, which doubled at the Bird Market in Moscow. Any mongrel that wasn't too large could become a cosmonaut.

Requests for permission to fly into space increased immeasurably following the successful landing of Belka and Strelka, showing just how much the space dogs had captured the hearts of the Soviet people.