Monday, November 3, is the 57th anniversary of the first trip into space by a dog and living being. Unfortunately, this canine was also the first living being to die in space.

The dog named Laika was launched into space as the sole passenger of Sputnik-2, a satellite built by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the Soviet Union. Laika's original name, however, was Kudryavka or "Little Curly" in English.

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Laika, a stray mongrel, was picked-up off a street in Moscow by a Russian scientist a few weeks before her space flight on November 3, 1957. Laika means "barker" in English.

U.S. media, however, dubbed her "Muttnik." Laika was trained along with other 10 canine candidates seven weeks before the historic space launch.

This canine space mission's objective was to gauge whether humans can survive long exposures to zero gravity. This was was a serious problem for the Soviet Union's fledgling space industry.

The National Space Science Data Center noted that the pressurized and padded capsule of Sputnik-2 allowed Laika to lie down and stand up. There was an air regeneration system for oxygen while food and water were dispensed to Laika in gelatin form.

Laika's spacesuit included a harness and a bag to collect waste. Electrodes were attached to monitor her vital signs.

Russian scientists involved in the Sputnik-2 space mission believe it was an absolute honor for a stray dog to be part of this historic space journey.

Some, however, regret that Laika had to die when Sputnik-2 burned up in the atmosphere upon re-entry. Scientists originally intended Laika lose consciousness before re-entry so that she wouldn't experience the agonizing pain of burning up inside the capsule.

Laika, however, died within hours after the launch when the capsule overheated.

The man responsible for picking up Laika off the streets was Vladimir Yazdovsky, a doctor who is part of the Sputnik-2 team.  Yazdovsky said he took Laika to play with his children one last time before the launch.

Yazdovsky described Laika as quiet and charming. He said he wanted to show Laika some affection before her doomed space mission.

Laika's death wasn't in vain. NASA said that information collected from Laika's space mission was pivotal in opening doors to safer future space travels. Laika's mission showed it was indeed possible for mammals to survive zero gravity.

During the 50th anniversary of Laika's space voyage, Russian officials erected a monument to remember the huge sacrifice a stray dog made for safer space travel.

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