On November 3, 1957 Sputnik 2
launched a dog named Laika.
Scientists wanted to experiment
whether a human body go to
space.
Laika was picked by scientist and
trained to go to space.
The scientists wanted stray
animals because they thought
they would be able to survive
take off because of their tough
life.
Laika was lost soon after the
launch.
On August 19, 1960, two
dogs, Belka and Strelka, a
rabbit, 40 mice, 2 rats,
some plants and flasks of
fruit flies were launched on
Sputnik 5. They spent a day
in space and all animals,
insects and plants returned
safely.
On April 2008, Russian built
a statue of Laika . The small
monument, of a dog standing
on a rocket, is in Moscow.