Sputnik 2
The first animal in orbit
Laika, confined in her mock capsule
Following the enormous propaganda success of the launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894–1971) approached Sergei Korolev (1907–1966), chief designer of the Soviet space program at Design Bureau No. 1 (OKB-1), with a request to conduct another space flight to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, which was celebrated on November 7. At the time, OKB-1 was working on a large research satellite codenamed Object D, but it could not be ready in time. Object D was later launched as Sputnik 3 in May 1958.
In response to Khrushchev's request, Korolev proposed sending a dog into orbit. Dogs had been launched by the Soviets on suborbital flights in high-altitude research rockets since 1951, to study the effects of rocket flight and weightlessness, and preliminary studies for an orbital flight of a dog had already been discussed. The Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party formally approved the plan on October 17.
Three dogs from the suborbital flights program were trained for orbital flight. They were stray dogs hound on the streets of Moscow. Soviet scientists believed that strays, given that they were already accustomed to harsh conditions, like extreme cold and hunger, would be better suited to the extreme environments of space. To adapt the dogs to the confines of the small cabin, they were kept in progressively smaller cages for periods of up to twenty days at a time. They were placed in centrifuges that simulated the acceleration of a rocket launch and trained to eat a special high-nutrition gel.
A 3-year-old female mongrel dog, originally named Kudryavka (Little Curly) but later renamed Laika (Barker, Russian: Лайка) was chosen to be the first animal to orbit the Earth. She weighed about five or six kilograms. Since the technology for a safe re-entry did not yet exist, there was no means to safely return Laika to Earth and it was accepted that the mission would end in her death. Laika was provided with a 3 liter total supply of food for 7 days, which was also how long oxygen regeneration would last (according to other sources for 20 days). There were no provisions onboard the satellite designed to euthanize the dog.
In response to Khrushchev's request, Korolev proposed sending a dog into orbit. Dogs had been launched by the Soviets on suborbital flights in high-altitude research rockets since 1951, to study the effects of rocket flight and weightlessness, and preliminary studies for an orbital flight of a dog had already been discussed. The Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party formally approved the plan on October 17.
Three dogs from the suborbital flights program were trained for orbital flight. They were stray dogs hound on the streets of Moscow. Soviet scientists believed that strays, given that they were already accustomed to harsh conditions, like extreme cold and hunger, would be better suited to the extreme environments of space. To adapt the dogs to the confines of the small cabin, they were kept in progressively smaller cages for periods of up to twenty days at a time. They were placed in centrifuges that simulated the acceleration of a rocket launch and trained to eat a special high-nutrition gel.
A 3-year-old female mongrel dog, originally named Kudryavka (Little Curly) but later renamed Laika (Barker, Russian: Лайка) was chosen to be the first animal to orbit the Earth. She weighed about five or six kilograms. Since the technology for a safe re-entry did not yet exist, there was no means to safely return Laika to Earth and it was accepted that the mission would end in her death. Laika was provided with a 3 liter total supply of food for 7 days, which was also how long oxygen regeneration would last (according to other sources for 20 days). There were no provisions onboard the satellite designed to euthanize the dog.
Laika in a flight harness
The satellite, codenamed Object PS-2 (Russian: Простейший Спутник-2; English: "the simplest satellite-2"), consisted of three units mounted in a conical frame, 4 meter high, with a base diameter of 2 meters. It contained several compartments for radio transmitters, a telemetry system, a programming unit, a regeneration and temperature control system for the cabin, and scientific instruments.
The aluminum dog cabin GKZh (Russian: Germetichnaya Kabina Zhivotnogo; English: Hermetic Animal Cabin) was adapted from a system used to carry dogs on the R-2A suborbital rocket. It was 80 cm long and 64 cm in diameter. It was equipped with the life-support system and sensors to measure ambient pressure and temperature, as well as the dog's movements, blood pressure, breath frequency and heartbeat. The cabin had a small window in the forward bulkhead.
Above the dog's cabin there was a spherical container which was essentially the same as PS-1 (Sputnik-1) satellite. It held two radio transmitters with the frequencies 20.005 and 40.002 MHz and power batteries. At the top of the satellite were two spectrophotometers to measure solar x-ray and far ultraviolet radiation. While in orbit, the satellite remained attached to the second stage of the rocket. This permitted the R-7 telemetry system (Tral-D) to transmit engineering, biological and science data. It would transmit data to Earth for 15 minutes of each orbit on classified frequencies, 66 and 70 MHz. The upper rocket stage also housed two Geiger counters for measuring cosmic rays. The mass of Sputnik 2 was 508.3 kg, and with the empty core stage of the launch vehicle, the total mass was 7.79 tons.
The aluminum dog cabin GKZh (Russian: Germetichnaya Kabina Zhivotnogo; English: Hermetic Animal Cabin) was adapted from a system used to carry dogs on the R-2A suborbital rocket. It was 80 cm long and 64 cm in diameter. It was equipped with the life-support system and sensors to measure ambient pressure and temperature, as well as the dog's movements, blood pressure, breath frequency and heartbeat. The cabin had a small window in the forward bulkhead.
Above the dog's cabin there was a spherical container which was essentially the same as PS-1 (Sputnik-1) satellite. It held two radio transmitters with the frequencies 20.005 and 40.002 MHz and power batteries. At the top of the satellite were two spectrophotometers to measure solar x-ray and far ultraviolet radiation. While in orbit, the satellite remained attached to the second stage of the rocket. This permitted the R-7 telemetry system (Tral-D) to transmit engineering, biological and science data. It would transmit data to Earth for 15 minutes of each orbit on classified frequencies, 66 and 70 MHz. The upper rocket stage also housed two Geiger counters for measuring cosmic rays. The mass of Sputnik 2 was 508.3 kg, and with the empty core stage of the launch vehicle, the total mass was 7.79 tons.
A cutaway diagram showing the major component of Sputnik 2: 1. payload shroud, 2. payload shroud ejection system, 3. solar instruments, 4. instrument frame, 5. container for radio transmitter, 6. pressurized cabin, 7. fan, 8. air scrubbing unit, 9. food trough, 10. cabin window, 11. antenna and 12. Blok A rocket stage. Credit: RKK Energia/Andrew LePage, https://www.drewexmachina.com
Model of Sputnik 2 at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sputnik 2 (Russian: Спутник 2), the world’s second artificial satellite, was launched from Tyuratam (now the Baikonur Cosmodrome) Site 1/5 in Kazakh S.S.R., at 02:30:42 UTC on November 3, 1957, aboard a two-stage Sputnik 8K71PS no. M1-2PS rocket, a variant of the R-7 intercontinental ballistic missile. The satellite successfully reached 225 by 1,671-kilometer orbit with a period of 103.7 minutes and an inclination 65.3 degrees.
During the launch Laika’s respiration increased to four times normal and her heart rate went up to 240 beats per minute. After reaching orbit, the capsule’s cooling system, derived from Sputnik-1, proved completely inadequate and was unable to control the rising temperature, which soon reached 43°C. Telemetry indicated that the dog was under high stress. It is likely that during the fourth orbit, after about five to seven hours of flight, Laika died from overheating.The true cause and time of her death were not made public until 2002; instead, it was officially reported that she died when her oxygen ran out on day six or, as the Soviet government initially claimed, she was euthanised prior to oxygen depletion.
During the launch Laika’s respiration increased to four times normal and her heart rate went up to 240 beats per minute. After reaching orbit, the capsule’s cooling system, derived from Sputnik-1, proved completely inadequate and was unable to control the rising temperature, which soon reached 43°C. Telemetry indicated that the dog was under high stress. It is likely that during the fourth orbit, after about five to seven hours of flight, Laika died from overheating.The true cause and time of her death were not made public until 2002; instead, it was officially reported that she died when her oxygen ran out on day six or, as the Soviet government initially claimed, she was euthanised prior to oxygen depletion.
The previously classified document from the Russian archive said:
"The animal (dog) was in satisfactory condition at the start of the flight. Its pulse and respiration were within normal limits during the first three orbits. Movements were recorded during the third orbit. During this orbit, a significant increase in cabin temperature (up to 43°C) was recorded. On the second day (orbits 15,16, and 17), the blood pressure, pulse, and respiration sensors were inactive. The electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor was functioning, and its readings indicated that the dog was alive. As of 5:00 a.m.on November 6, no pulse, blood pressure, or movement were detected."
The scientific data showed some increases and decreases in radiation levels, however, Russian scientists did not realize the existence of the Earth's radiation belts.
The satellite exhausted its batteries and ceased transmitting data on November 10, 1957. Sputnik 2's orbit decayed, and on April 14, 1958, after 162 days and 2,570 orbits, the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
The satellite exhausted its batteries and ceased transmitting data on November 10, 1957. Sputnik 2's orbit decayed, and on April 14, 1958, after 162 days and 2,570 orbits, the satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Sputnik 2 lifts off from Baikonur on November 3, 1957. Credit: RKK Energia
Drawing of Sputnik 2 attached to the second stage of its launch vehicle in orbit
Photograph of Sputnik 2 and its booster rocket taken by Air Force personnel at Air Force Missile Test Center, Patrick AFB, Florida, in March 1958
References:
Anatoly Zak. The USSR orbits second artificial satellite with dog Laika onboardDon P. Mitchell. Sputnik 2
© 2025, Andrew Mirecki
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