Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero • Hacker News Board

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#11

Post by krrrh » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:14 PM UTC

If you are in the LA area the Museum of Jurassic Technology is worth visiting for, among other reasons, the room dedicated to the dogs of the Soviet space program. It features paintings and bios of 5 dogs who were involved in the space program.

http://www.mjt.org/recentaddtions/creatures.html

Edit: Some info about and images of the paintings here:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-...

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#12

Post by Rebelgecko » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:18 PM UTC

dmlorenzetti wrote: post #4

For those in the SF Bay area, the Chabot space center has a lot of old Soviet space hardware -- including a training capsule like the one in the picture at the top of the article.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City has a small exhibit on Soviet space dogs. It's one of the more grounded parts of the "museum"

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#13

Post by kizzy55 » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:22 PM UTC

I remember reading about Laika when I was a child. Growing up when the space race was really big I remember both countries us and the Russians sending up animals to test how they would react in space before sending up a human.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#14

Post by Amorymeltzer » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:36 PM UTC

The author of this piece, Alex Wellerstein, is absolutely fantastic on the history of the Nuclear bomb, and I cannot recommend his blog enough: http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com

His twitter is also worth a follow: http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#15

Post by DanCarvajal » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:41 PM UTC

I fucking cried during her episode in Space Dandy.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#16

Post by dsnuh » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:48 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #9

Adding to the cultural references... Jonathan Coulton wrote a superb song about Laika called "Space Doggity". The cage is very small, a tiny silver ball that makes you a hero the moment you step inside. The world is watching you, what you're about to do will live on forever, even though you'll be dead and gone, buckle up we're about to turn the engines on. Hello from Sputnik 2, I am receiving you. Thanks for the the…

There is also "Laika" by Arcade Fire. Not necessarily about the dog, but the only other song I can think of that even mentions Laika.

https://youtu.be/C4EmXN9xvdE

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#17

Post by vermontdevil » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 6:52 PM UTC

Here's some more in detail about Laika:

https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/laika-declassified-...

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#18

Post by jt93 » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 7:28 PM UTC

sushisource wrote: post #8

I did not need to be tearing up at work today :(

This story really got to me, too. :(

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#19

Post by chrisbennet » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 7:34 PM UTC

beat wrote: post #9

Adding to the cultural references... Jonathan Coulton wrote a superb song about Laika called "Space Doggity". The cage is very small, a tiny silver ball that makes you a hero the moment you step inside. The world is watching you, what you're about to do will live on forever, even though you'll be dead and gone, buckle up we're about to turn the engines on. Hello from Sputnik 2, I am receiving you. Thanks for the the…

I came here to post that but you beat me to it. The song is a tear jerker. https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS690US693&hl=en...

BTW: Jonathan used to be a web developer or some sort of software dev.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#20

Post by liberte82 » Fri, Nov 03, 2017, 7:37 PM UTC

I remember reading about Laika as a kid and how they sent up the dog in space and just let it die up there. It made me feel so bad and still does today. :(