Laika The Dog, 50 Years Later

Download: Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)"

Tomorrow, Nov. 3, marks the 50th anniversary of Laika the dog becoming the first animal ever to go into space. She died before actually entering orbit, but proved that it was possible for animals to survive weightlessness. Sputnik 2 was never retrievable; the operation was a death sentence from the start.

While no one thought much of it at the time, more and more Russian scientists have come out against Laika's death. After all, how fucked up do you have to be to kill an animal that just wants to be loved?

(April Wright)