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Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

smithsonianmag.com

21–30 of 185 posts

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#21
post #19

If you like happy endings, also check Belka and Strelka [1]. Not only did they safely travel to space and back, Strelka later gave birth to 6 pups, and one of them went on to live in the JFK White House. [1] https://www.amusingplanet.com/2021/12/belka-and-strelka-sovi...

[1] the article

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#23
post #22

this story is ridiculous when so many monkeys are / have been killed right here on earth victim of various drugs, vaccines and cosmetic tests. they'd squeeze anything to make russia/ussr look bad, however little.

It is possible for multiple things to be sad.

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#24

There's a song from Mecano. Two lines always hit me. I will try to translate it. And while Earth was trowing a giant party where happiness mixes tears in the champagne Laika just was looking out the window What could be that giant colored ball? And why do I keep spinning it around?

Akino Arai also had a haunting song about the Sputnik 2 mission as a metaphor for a breakup.

Translation:

  With enough air and water for seven days
  And someone's uncompromising wishes
  The laika dog on Sputnik
  Doors which will never again open now close
  To think that I must go on living
  In some distant place unfamiliar to you
  That we can never feel the same things

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#25
post #22

this story is ridiculous when so many monkeys are / have been killed right here on earth victim of various drugs, vaccines and cosmetic tests. they'd squeeze anything to make russia/ussr look bad, however little.

> they'd squeeze anything to make russia/ussr look bad, however little.

You don’t need to squeeze anything to make Russia/USSR look bad.

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#28
> Soviet physicians chose Laika to die, but they were not entirely heartless.

This tone is really harsh, animals dying to push science forward is still common today and acting like they were "heartless" for it is disingenuous.

Laika got to be remembered, which his already much more than can be said of most test subjects.

Re: Laika, the space dog, and her one-way trip into orbit (2018)

#29
post #22

this story is ridiculous when so many monkeys are / have been killed right here on earth victim of various drugs, vaccines and cosmetic tests. they'd squeeze anything to make russia/ussr look bad, however little.

> they'd squeeze anything to make russia/ussr look bad, however little. You don’t need to squeeze anything to make Russia/USSR look bad.

You do. How would you otherwise demonize a Country that reached peak industrialization in a couple decades starting from a rural, semi-feudal society?

- That established the 8 hour work day in 1917,

- legalized abortion in 1920,

- erradicated illiteracy and achieved a literacy rate of 75% starting from 25%,

- Was the first country to build satellites and men to space?

- Provided a decent standard of living to all their citizens while also suffering inmense pression from the First World?

You really have to grasp straws to criticize a country that made such enormous progress in such short time and that improved the lives of millions while also being attacked from left and right.

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