Chapter 1: The Streets of Moscow

Moscow carries a somber ambiance, where the clamor of life often masks a deeper melancholy. The air is thick with the scent of sawdust, and cafes buzz with heated discussions about politics and finance, punctuated by the scraping of utensils against plates and the rustling of stale bread. The weather is unforgiving, with biting winds sweeping in from the snowy expanses outside the city. Here, women clad in elegant outfits navigate the crowded sidewalks, their high heels clicking against the pavement. This city, rich in history and culture, possesses a unique beauty laced with sorrow, as depicted in countless 18th-century novels. Its inhabitants exhibit remarkable resilience, seeking comfort in drink during long, harsh winters, wrapping themselves in heavy coats, and smoking near the fountains that spring to life during the fleeting warm months.

It is within this urban landscape that Laika first makes her appearance.

Researchers were drawn to Laika due to her gentle and trusting demeanor. To survive in the streets, she needed to be exceptionally hardy, and her gender played a role; as a female, she was smaller and more manageable, allowing for a simpler design of her spacesuit. Laika was destined to be the first living creature to circle the Earth, a canine ambassador whose image would grace magazine covers and postage stamps for decades. A monument would eventually be erected in her memory, but the tale of her journey is a deeply troubling one, leaving many researchers in profound sorrow and isolation following the mission.

Chapter 2: The Mission Begins

In 1957, the preparations for Sputnik 2 were underway, aiming to surpass the achievements of Sputnik 1, all while adhering to a tight timeline. Engineers worked frantically, with little opportunity to test critical components of the spacecraft. The launch was scheduled just days before November 7, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.

A selection of stray dogs were gathered for training, under the assumption that their absence would go unnoticed. After undergoing rigorous evaluations, which included confinement in cramped capsules and surgeries for medical device implantation, Laika was ultimately chosen as the passenger for Sputnik 2. Her name, meaning "barker," was popularized through radio broadcasts. The mission aimed to send her aboard a pressurized capsule, amidst uncertainties about how space travel would affect a living being. Worldwide, people hoped for her safe return.

However, the researchers were acutely aware that Laika would not survive the journey. The craft could not be retrieved, and she was equipped with only one meal and a seven-day oxygen supply for a mission projected to last 162 days. The plan was for her to perish painlessly from oxygen deprivation, but the reality unfolded differently.

A few days before the launch, one researcher decided to take Laika home, possibly giving her a glimpse of a loving environment for the first time. Laika, a lively and affectionate dog, played joyfully with the children, her spirit undiminished by her past. Vladimir Yazdovsky, who took her home, reflected on wanting to grant her a moment of happiness before her monumental yet tragic journey.

On launch day, Laika was secured in the pressurized compartment of Sputnik 2. One scientist, overwhelmed with emotion, kissed her nose and sought her forgiveness for the fate awaiting her. As the rocket ascended, Laika's fear was palpable; her heart raced at three times its normal rate, and her frightened barks echoed in the isolation of her chamber.

After one hour and 43 minutes, Laika entered orbit. However, a malfunction in the craft’s heat shield caused the temperature to rise dangerously high. In the rush to prepare for launch, the cooling system had not undergone sufficient testing. By the fourth orbit, temperatures soared above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and by the fifth, Laika succumbed to heat-related distress.

Sputnik 2 continued to carry Laika’s lifeless form for over five months before re-entering Earth's atmosphere, where it burned up upon descent, leaving no trace of her remains. Laika's image would live on, however, emblazoned on various Soviet products.

Chapter 3: A Legacy of Sacrifice

In death, Laika became an enduring symbol of sacrifice and human achievement, yet Oleg Gazenko, a key researcher, lamented, "We did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of the dog." During the same period, the United States was launching monkeys into space, many of which perishe