Dogs in space: Meet the Soviet Union space programme’s unsung heroes

alphr:

Today is the 60th anniversary of Laika – a Moscow stray – being blasted off Earth to become the first dog in space. In honour of the occasion, here is Duncan Geere’s piece on the full history of the Soviet’s canine space team.

I knew the Soviets had sent Laika into orbit but I didn’t know of her tragic before and after story.