The story they told was a lie. For decades, the world believed Laika, the Moscow street dog. Died peacefully in orbit a week after her launch in 1957. The Soviet government said she was euthanized with poisoned food before her oxygen ran out–This was a story told to make the world feel better about a dog sent on a mission with no chance of return.
The truth came out in 2002, it was much harder–During the launch, a part of the rocket failed to separate as planned. This broke the thermal control system. The capsule. A little metal sphere. Started to overheat in the direct sun, Laikas heart rate tripled – She was terrified and she was cooking alive–The Soviets received no life signals after the fourth orbit. She died in panic and agony, just five to seven hours into the flight.
