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Laika-the small dog that started the animal rights movement
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I ran across a story from history that I found interesting. I remembered reading about it, but was too young at the time to realize what was happening.
On November 3, 1957 the first living being was shot into orbit on the Russian satellite Sputnik 2... Laika, a 10 pound mixed terrier mix, picked up off the streets of Moscow. Her calm nature, personality, and love of people sealed her fate as the first dog ever to circle the earth. She was taught to live in a small module, wear specially designed space wear, and eat specially made food. They even used simulators to help her ad
apt to the thunderous noise and vibrations of take off. During the flight, they were able to monitor her vital signs.
After the launch the Soviets revealed that this trip was designed as a one way trip from the beginning. This statement was met with outrage from all over the world. Although other dogs had almost made it into space they were able to come back alive because of parachutes attached to their capsules, Laika did not have a re-entry capsule. She was on her own.
Originally it was reported by the Soviets that she lived several days and died painlessly while in orbit. New information about this incident was not released until after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2002, Dimitri Malashenkov of the Institute for Biological Problems in Moscow, reported to the World Space Conference in Houston, that Laika died within hours after her environment’s humidity and heat increased dramatically. Laika was dead by the fourth orbit from extreme stress and overheating.
It appears that the ruthless space race between the United States and the Soviet Union was the main reason that the small astronaut was not provided a way to re-enter the atmosphere safely. In their rush to be the first to put a live animal in space, the Soviets spent only 3 weeks designing and building the capsule that would become Laika’s coffin. This information met with outrage from many people, and was most likely the beginning of the present day animal rights movement.
Despite surviving only a few hours, her place in history is secure. This stoic small dog paved the way for man to follow. 
"The greatness of a Nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated"-Mahatma Gandhi
Thanks for reading.
For more information:
http://history1900s.about.com/od/1950s/p/laikathedog.htm
http://www.ttlntl.co.uk/2/Name/Historicdog.htm
http://www.novareinna.com/bridge/laika.html
http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0211/articles/021103a.htm
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