The first dog in orbit, carried aboard Sputnik II on
November 3rd, 1957.
Literally "Barker" in Russian. Laika was
supposed to have died four days into the orbit by a package of poisoned food, but died much earlier, a few hours into the flight, due to overheating. Formerly a stray, Laika was at once the most lucky and most unlucky dog in the world.