Laika, the “Little Barker,” was a courageous stray dog from Moscow. Half Husky and half Terrier, she was only about three years old when she was chosen for the Sputnik 2 mission. Scientists selected her because she was calm and adaptable—qualities they thought would help her survive the harsh conditions of space. But they knew the mission was one-way; Laika would never return home.

Inside the tiny capsule, Laika was kept safe and cool for a short time, but sadly, she likely survived only a few hours after launch. Sputnik 2 orbited the Earth for months before finally burning up in the atmosphere. Every year on November 3, people remember Laika and the sacrifice she made, reflecting on the heavy price of early space exploration.

Laika’s story is both heroic and heartbreaking. It reminds us that while progress is important, it should never come at the expense of innocent lives. Animals like Laika deserve kindness and respect, not to be used and forgotten in the name of science.

We owe it to Laika and all animals to choose better paths—paths that value compassion alongside discovery. Her legacy is a call to balance human ambition with care for the lives that help us reach new frontiers.