Information AboutLaika |
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| animals in space | |
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Laika (from and the first living creature from Earth to enter Orbit . She was launched into Space on Sputnik 2 , a Soviet spacecraft, on November 3 , 1957 . Like many other Animals In Space , she died during the mission, though earlier than expected. She was found as a stray wandering the streets of Moscow , a Mongrel female weighing approximately 6 kg (13 lb) and about 3 years old. "Laika" is in fact the Russian name for several Breeds Of Dogs similar to the Husky . Her name was changed from Kudryavka ( Russian for "Little Curly"), and she was also nicknamed '''Zhuchka''' ("Little Bug") and '''Limonchik''' ("Little Lemon"). The American press dubbed her '''Muttnik''' ('' Mutt '' + suffix " -nik ") and some animal rights activists at the time called her '''Curly'''. Her true ancestry can never be known, although it is generally accepted that she was part husky or other Nordic breed, and possibly part Terrier . Laika died a few hours after launch from Stress and Overheating . Her true Cause Of Death was not made public until decades after the flight, with officials stating that she was either Euthanized by poisoned food or died when the Oxygen ran out. Some former Soviet scientists have since expressed regret for allowing Laika to die. Although Laika did not survive the trip, the experiment proved that a living passenger could survive being launched into orbit and endure Weightlessness . It paved the way for human Spaceflight , and provided scientists with some of the first data on how living Organism s react to spaceflight environments. SPUTNIK 2 See Also: Sputnik 2 After the success of Sputnik 1 , Nikita Khrushchev , the Soviet Leader , wanted a second spacecraft launched on November 7 , the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution . There was a much more sophisticated satellite already under construction, but it would not be ready until December. This satellite would later become Sputnik 3 . In order to meet the November deadline, a new, less sophisticated design had to be built. According to Russian sources, the official decision to launch Sputnik 2 was made on October 10 or 12, leaving the team only 4 weeks to design and build the space craft. Sputnik 2, therefore, was something of a rushed job, with most elements of the space craft being constructed from rough sketches. Aside from the primary mission of sending a living passenger into space, Sputnik 2 also contained instrumentation for measuring Solar Radiation and Cosmic Ray s. After reaching orbit the Nose Cone was jettisoned successfully but the "Blok A" core did not separate as planned, preventing the thermal control system from operating correctly. Some of the Thermal Insulation also tore loose. Consequently, the temperature in the cabin rose to 40 °C (104°F). LAIKA'S VOYAGE The Soviet Union and the . Albina flew twice on a high-altitude test Rocket while Mushka was used to test instrumentation and Life Support . To adapt the dogs to the confines of the tiny cabin of Sputnik 2, they were kept in progressively smaller cages for periods up to 15 to 20 days. The extensive close confinement caused them to stop urinating or defecating, making them restless, and causing their general condition to deteriorate. Laxatives did not improve their condition, and the researchers found that only long periods of training proved effective. The dogs were also placed in Centrifuge s that simulated the acceleration of a rocket launch and placed in simulators that simulated the noises of the spacecraft. This would cause their pulses to double and their Blood Pressure to increase by 30–65 Torr . The dogs were trained to eat a special high-nutrition gel that would be their food in space. According to a 1957 from Baikonur Cosmodrome , Laika's Fur was sponged in a weak Alcohol solution, and then carefully groomed. Iodine was painted onto areas where sensors would be placed to monitor her bodily functions. The pressurized cabin on Sputnik 2 allowed enough room for her to lie down or stand and was padded. An air regeneration system provided oxygen, and a cooling fan was set to activate whenever cabin temperature exceeded 15°C. Food and water were dispensed in a gelatinised form. Laika was fitted with a Harness , a bag to collect waste, and electrodes to monitor vital signs. The early Telemetry indicated Laika was agitated but eating her food. The sensors showed that during launch, her Pulse rate rose to three times its resting level. After reaching Weightlessness , her pulse rate decreased, but it took three times longer than it had during earlier ground tests, an indication of stress. Approximately five to seven hours into the flight, no further life signs were received from the spacecraft. It had been planned that Laika would be euthanized with a poisoned serving of food after 10 days. For many years, the Soviet Union gave conflicting statements that she had either died from , 1958 , after 2,570 orbits. CONTROVERSY Sputnik 2 was not designed to be retrievable, so it was intended all along that Laika would die during the mission. The mission sparked a debate across the globe on the Mistreatment Of Animals and Animal Testing in general to advance science. The mission was viewed by many, including some Soviet citizens, as a Propaganda stunt. In the United Kingdom , the National Canine Defence League called on all dog owners to observe a minute's silence, while the Royal Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (RSPCA) received protests even before the Soviet Union had finished announcing the mission's success. Animal Rights Groups at the time called on members of the public to protest at Soviet embassies. It can be speculated that these protests were politically motivated, at least in part. In the Soviet Union, there is less controversy, as the Soviet people perceived exploits and personal sacrifices as normal and neither the media, nor books in the following years, nor the public questioned the decision to send the dog into space to ultimately die. However, in 1998, Oleg Gazenko , one of the leading scientists responsible for sending Laika into space, did express regret for allowing her to die: "The more time passes, the more I am sorry about it. We did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of the dog." {Link without Title} LAIKA IN POPULAR CULTURE mission]] Laika's pioneering journey made her one of the most Famous Dog s in the world. A plaque commemorating fallen cosmonauts was unveiled at the Institute for Aviation and Space Medicine in Star City, Moscow in November 1997, and in one corner of the plaque there is an image of Laika. She has been pictured on several postage stamps in different countries around the world. Brands of Chocolate and Cigarette s were named in her honour as well as a large collection of Memorabilia that continues to be sold at auctions today. On March 9 , 2005 a patch of soil on Mars was unofficially named "Laika" by mission controllers, it is located near Vostok Crater in Meridiani Planum . It was examined by the Mars Exploration Rover '' Opportunity 's'' microscopic imager on Sol 400. Literature
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