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

smithsonianmag.com

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

#91

2007 graphic novel. Lots of awards. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika_(comics)

I was hoping someone would mention. Here is another link: https://www.nickabadzis.com/laika-graphic-novel

There is also this one written by Jeff Lemire, though it is obviously a work of fiction. It also features the American monkeys Able and Baker: https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/primordial

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

#92
Author Nick Abadzis created a graphic novel of the story of Laika [1]. While I expect it includes some fictional elements, a lot of the story in the graphic novel was true, including Laika's unfortunate demise. He got so many comments about the sad ending that he wrote several alternate endings to placate his readers. You can se them in reference [2].

[1]. https://www.nickabadzis.com/laika-graphic-novel

[2]. https://www.bigplanetcomics.com/category/comics/the-alternat...

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

#93
post #58

This is appalling but at least, as others commented, Laika got to be celebrated. For an example of real heartless exploitation of animals, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_of_despair . This psycho is still held in high esteem. Not only that, many such experiments continue to be made for research.

What was it about the 20th century that produced such heartless people? Lead exposure? I understand that the 20th century is far from an aberration in terms of human cruelty, but there is an element of sadism that feels different than other centuries. For instance, read the first sentence from Harlow's Wikipedia page: > Harry Frederick Harlow (October 31, 1905 – December 6, 1981) was an American psychologist best kno…

Just anecdotal, but some older people I've known who grew up on farms are probably the most indifferent to animal suffering, as long as the animal provides meat or whatever their utility is. Animal welfare is only a thing kids are concerned about that they need to grow out of. Combine that attitude with the growing scientific revolution and desire to partake in scientific experiments and such, and I could see how this emerges.

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

#94

2007 graphic novel. Lots of awards. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika_(comics)

Author Nick Abadzis got a lot of responses about the factual, sad fate of Laika in his graphic novel. So much that he wrote several alternate (entirely fictional) endings to the story to make readers feel better.

https://www.bigplanetcomics.com/category/comics/the-alternat...

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

#95

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

In the Czech Republic, they have an oldie 50s style rock tune based on "Rock Around the Clock", with lyrics mentioning the Laika.

  Sovětští mužici               Those Soviet chaps
  vypustili družici             Let out a satellite
  Lajku do ní nacpali           They stuffed Laika into it
  a nažrat jí nedali.           Not giving her anything to eat
  Na kytaru trsaj rock'n'roll.  Strum rock'n'roll on your guitar

  Lajka letí k Měsíci           Lajka's flying to the Moon
  hlady žere družici            Eating the satellite out of hunger
  Lajka volá SOS                Lajka's calling "SOS"
  ať tu chcípne jinej pes!      "Let another dog croak here!"
  Na kytaru trsaj rock'n'roll.  Strum ...
The Prague Spring events put a damper on this kind of thing.

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

#97
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The German death machine grinds down circa 30 million Soviet people, majority of them civilians, the hot take is being mad the red army for tank dogs. Sometimes the comments here are really special in their lack of context.

Or maybe both of those things are shitty and it isn’t mutually exclusive. Sometimes the binary thinking here is really special.

Sometimes you're faced with a binary reality, and have to decide between several shitty things.

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

#98
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...

Quoted post unavailable.

I'm honestly taken aback at the poor taste of this comment. The dude adopted a cute puppy and cared for it. That's not a good reason to be murdered.

I don't know exactly when this happened, but tensions were high after the Cuban missile crisis, and a peace offering in the form of a cuddly creature to love doesn't really seem terrible to me.

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

#99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Quoted post unavailable.

I'm honestly taken aback at the poor taste of this comment. The dude adopted a cute puppy and cared for it. That's not a good reason to be murdered. I don't know exactly when this happened, but tensions were high after the Cuban missile crisis, and a peace offering in the form of a cuddly creature to love doesn't really seem terrible to me.

> not a good reason to be murdered

Nobody said it was; and he wasn't murdered for any good reason.

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

#100
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or maybe both of those things are shitty and it isn’t mutually exclusive. Sometimes the binary thinking here is really special.

Sometimes you're faced with a binary reality, and have to decide between several shitty things.

Like strapping a bomb to a dog that might very well just run off into the woods or throwing it with your arm like everyone else, right? Somehow I feel like the tank dog idea didn't come up from cutting edge military science but rather some drunken soldiers with a bomb and a stay dog and a fucked up sense of humor.
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