In 1957, a stray dog from Moscow, named Laika, launched into space aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2. At the time little was known of whether humans would be able to survive outer space conditions, Laika the dog was sent into orbit to test the effects of space travel on living animals. There was no plan for Laika to return to Earth as the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed. Unfortunately, Laika died within hours from overheating. Information of her death was not made public until 2002; instead, it was widely reported the she had died on day six of orbit when her oxygen ran out. Laika was the first ever animal to orbit the Earth.
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