“Soviet Space Dogs” Blasts Off
On 3 November 1957, Laika became the first Earth-born creature to travel to space. Although she died a few hours after launch, subsequent canine travelers returned from their out-of-this-world missions alive. They became national heroes in the Soviet Union, with their images reproduced on everything from cigarette packets and sweet-tins and stamps to postcards. As the new book “Soviet Space Dogs” is launched, The Guardian offers a look at canine space explorers in Soviet pop culture.
