The story of Laika, the first dog in space, has been shrouded in legend, misinformation, and propaganda since she first reached Earth’s orbit in 1957. This article digs into what really happened to ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. On November 3, 1957, a Soviet space dog named Laika became the first animal to orbit Earth. Laika was a 3-year-old stray ...

In March, I visited the Lowell Observatory — the astronomical research site where Pluto was first discovered — in Flagstaff, Arizona. I stood in line to squint through telescopes at Jupiter and the ...

In the late 1950s, Moscow’s streets were full of stray dogs that adapted to freezing nights and scarce food. One small mixed‑breed stood out to Soviet researchers for her calm nature and size. She was ...

Before the first human could fly into space, the Soviet Union sent a total of 48 dogs into space to gain experience. Not every animal survived.

1. A path of burning light -- 2. Animals in the heavens -- 3. The making of a space dog -- 4. Scouting the atmosphere -- 5. A face in the window -- 6. First around the Earth -- Epilogue The ...

NASM copy purchased with funds from the S. Dillon Ripley Endowment. "This fascinating book tells the story of the soviet space dogs, illustrated with legendary photographer Martin Parr's vintage space ...