Laika, First Dog in Orbit

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press Writer, Space & Earth science / Space Exploration

A view of Laika, Nov., 1957, the female dog the Russians say is riding in outer space as a passenger aboard Sputnik II. Just a month after the Soviet Union stunned the world by putting the Earth's first artificial satellite into orbit, it boasted a new victory -- a much bigger satellite carrying a mongrel dog called Laika. The mission, 50 years ago Saturday, helped pave the way for human flight. (AP Photo/NASA, file)

(AP) -- Just a month after the Soviet Union stunned the world by putting the first artificial satellite into orbit, it boasted a new victory - a much bigger satellite carrying a mongrel dog called Laika.

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