2-548-204 - © Fine Art Images/Heritage Images

Laika, Russian cosmonaut dog, 1957. Laika was the first animal to orbit the Earth, travelling on board the Sputnik 2 spacraft launched on 3 November 1957. The Soviet space programme used dogs and other animals in order to ascertain the viability of later manned space missions. Found in the collection of the State Museum of History, Moscow.