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Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

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Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#21

Post by throw_away »

dsnuh wrote: post #16
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

Also Phil Knight's film studio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika_(company) which made Coraline and Kubo.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#22

Post by deadhead »

dsnuh wrote: post #16
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

There's also "Laika" by Moxy Früvous, referring to the dog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlG-kpzMQIw

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#23

Post by Theodores »

Stalin had a saying, I paraphrase:

One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic.

I think the reaction to Laika's demise illustrated this.

The exact quantity of dogs 'put to sleep' in 1964 in the USA is not known. However, I am sure that many thousands were 'put to sleep' every single day, with more than a million dogs euthanised in the USA over the year because that is what happens.

Incidentally, the last shuttle disaster (Challenger, 2003) was bad news for 13 rats, eight garden orb weaver spiders, five silkworms and three cocoons, four Medaka fish eggs, three carpenter bees, 15 harvester ants and an assortment of fish. Plus the human crew.

I am sure all of the animals all had names. There was no mass outpouring of emotion though or letters to the New York Times saying how cruel it was to put them on the Space Shuttle given the likeliness of it going badly wrong.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#25

Post by tim333 »

Theodores wrote: post #23

Stalin had a saying, I paraphrase: One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic. I think the reaction to Laika's demise illustrated this. The exact quantity of dogs 'put to sleep' in 1964 in the USA is not known. However, I am sure that many thousands were 'put to sleep' every single day, with more than a million dogs euthanised in the USA over the year because that is what happens. Incidentally, the last…

It was still sad and bit unnecessary though. Stalin wasn't really known for his ethics.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#27

Post by jjxw »

krrrh wrote: post #11

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-...

I'll enthusiastically second the recommendation. I won't ruin too much, but their policy of not allowing mobile phones while you are in the museum to prevent you from searching anything up really helps to preserve the atmosphere.

Re: Remembering Laika, Space Dog and Soviet Hero

#30

Post by geephroh »

dsnuh wrote: post #16
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

And Margaret Fiedler's mid-90s trip-kraut post-rock band, Laika. Their '95 debut album, Silver Apples of the Moon, holds up pretty well.
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