- Playing
- Laika, November 3, 1957
- From
- Jonathan Thomas Stratman
A true, Russian space hero died today. As a matter of fact, the very first Russian space hero. And as it turns out, she was the first space martyr. (Also available in a non-date-specific version.)
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Related Pieces
Transcript
Piece Audio Version
A true Russian space hero died today, November 3, 1957. As a matter of fact, the very first Russian space hero … and, as it turns out … the first space martyr.
Her name was Laika, which means “Barker”, which was probably appropriate. Born and raised on the mean streets of Moscow, she was an eleven pound Samoyed/ terrier mix, conscripted into the Soviet space program to be the first living creature blasted into full orbital space flight.
Although the Soviets were involved in an on-going, sophisticated spacecraft design process, Laika’s Sputnik II was a quickie … going from conception to completion in just thirty days … a notion of then-Premier Nikita Kruschev. Her space flight and sacrifice was little more than a last-minute, birthday-party favor in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Why they chose her … was based on the assumption that she was used...
Read the full transcript
Laika.NTS Version
A true Russian space hero died November 3, 1957. As a matter of fact, the very first Russian space hero … and, as it turns out … the first space martyr.
Her name was Laika, which means “Barker”, which was probably appropriate. Born and raised on the mean streets of Moscow, she was an eleven pound Samoyed/ terrier mix, conscripted into the Soviet space program to be the first living creature blasted into full orbital space flight.
Although the Soviets were involved in an on-going, sophisticated spacecraft design process, Laika’s Sputnik II was a quickie … going from conception to completion in just thirty days … a notion of then-Premier Nikita Kruschev. Her space flight and sacrifice was little more than a last-minute, birthday-party favor in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution.
Why they chose her … was based on the assumption that she was used to very...
Read the full transcript
Rocky McCulloch
Posted on December 10, 2012 at 10:03 AM | Permalink
Well Done
I remember this as a news article 6th grade with little detail.