Day 164:- Laika

Thank you for the kind words about my London Blip.

One of the highlights of the Cosmonauts exhibition was a section on the dogs that were sent into space as part of the Soviet space program, the most famous of which was Laika. I couldn't resist bringing back a Laika toy for Sarah; although Laika's story did not end happily she was instrumental in changing the Soviet policy on sending up animals with no hope of return. Apart from helping scientists to understand what would be involved in sending a human into orbit, she taught them compassion; nearly 60 years later the little stray dog from Moscow is still remembered and her likeness is being cuddled by a girl in Yorkshire as well as adorning fridge magnets & shopping bags (both of which I am a proud owner of!).

PS - all the dogs that were sent up were female - no room for leg cocking in the capsules. Later dogs that returned safely were treated as Soviet heroes, and a puppy of one of them (Pushinka) was given to President Kennedy.