The Briefing Room
General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Space => Topic started by: Suppressed on November 03, 2017, 05:05:12 pm
-
A stray dog became the world’s first cosmonaut 60 years ago today
WRITTEN BY Ephrat Livni
7 hours ago
https://qz.com/1119003/a-stray-dog-became-the-worlds-first-cosmonaut-60-years-ago-today/
(https://qzprod.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/posta_romana_-_1959_-_laika_120_b-2.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=3200)
A Romanian stamp commemorating Laika, the Russian cosmonaut (1959). (public domain)
Laika was a dog with humble beginnings who would become a global star. The first living being to leave the Earth’s orbit, taking off 60 years ago today in the Russian satellite Sputnik on Nov. 3, 1957, the stray mutt landed a place in history.
Discovered by a talent spotter from the Russian space program on the streets, the dog met all the criteria—docile, resourceful, peed without lifting a leg, and photogenic. One of six picked to train for space travel, Laika was ultimately chosen to go for her quizzical expression, her trainer, 90-year-old biologist Adilya Kotovskaya, told the Associated Press (https://phys.org/news/2017-11-dog-star-scientist-recalls-laika.html).
Indeed, in images Laika always looked gently confused, as if she already sensed her destiny and couldn’t understand why she’d die for her charms.
[...]
Excerpt. Read more at link.
@Freya Doggie Ping @kevindavis Space Ping
-
RIP
Laika. This story always gave me nightmares.
-
RIP
Laika. This story always gave me nightmares.
Yes...the way she actually died is quite horrific, contrary to the story the Commies gave everyone at the time. That's why I wanted to honor her today.