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Caleb Parker Hovis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miranda Jernigan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HONS 121<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 November 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two global powers racing against each other to claim sole superiority surely couldn’t lead to any casualties, right? The right to claim the title of global superpower was on the line, with one deciding factor for who won: Who would get a living organism to space first? The Soviet Union or The United States of America; the stakes could not be any higher. Both sides feared the capabilities the other would have if they conquered the stars. A conflict both sides intended to win regardless of what they had to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Soviet Union was ahead; they already had a successful satellite placed into orbit called The Sputnik 1. As the name suggests, it would not be the last, but this time they intended to go even further and have the first living organism orbit the planet. The search was on; they needed a small female dog accustomed to harsh climates. What better place to find one than on the harsh streets of Moscow, which gave experience of extreme cold and hunger? One shaggy dog, barely holding on, piqued the interest of those searching. Laika, a mix of husky and other unknown breeds, was the perfect dog for them. Small enough to fit in the shuttle and cooperative, they couldn’t ask for a better cosmonaut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laika was chosen for a great mission, but unbeknownst to her, it was intended to be her last adventure. Training began; Laika was trained to withstand weightlessness as well as eat only liquid foods. Not only that, but she was put in increasingly smaller containers to cast away any fear of confined spaces. In order to withstand the trip, she would need to be comfortable with the strenuous confines of the shuttle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The development of the Sputnik 2 was nearing completion in late October. The Soviets took the opportunity for PR that Laika would bring in. Laika was loved by the public due to the numerous photoshoots they did, showcasing the cosmonaut in their spacesuit. The launch date was ever-nearing, and Laika was showered with love by the public and seemingly by those building the rocket. Everyone knew what would happen: the fate of their brave cosmonaut that was too great for any of them to bear. There were those who disapproved, but not enough to warrant any action. Not enough resistance to garner any change. Sacrifices were thought to be necessary, and why should a human be the unlucky one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
November third arrived, Laika\u2019s big day, the day it would all pay off. Laika was paraded through the street before being sent to board the rocket. One last chance to love the dog that would sacrifice so much for a country’s title. People took the opportunity to thank the unaware Laika with pets and affection. People with their hand-sewn flowing fabric outfits and scents much like what Laika was accustomed to greeted her, with the exception of one. A man no older than Laika when transferred to dog years smelled much cleaner and more synthetic than anyone she had met before. Clothing unlike anything she had ever seen, a T-shirt with images of dogs on the front. The man greeted Laika with as much affection as any other observer, but then he slipped a closed sack into Laika\u2019s space suit. Laika paid no mind to the strange interaction as she was greeted by many people and still had many more to receive pets from on her trip to the rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The moment had come; Laika was put in the shuttle. The ship was sealed, and Laika had been condemned to her magnum opus. What seemed like any other day for Laika was to be a great achievement for The Soviet Union. The countdown started; Laika was to be witnessed by the world. The unfortunate side effect that was accepted in the pursuit of ending the country’s strife with the USA. The sound, deafening accompanied by a jolt, startled Laika. This was not like any other day she practiced staying in tight spaces. The force was greater than she had any experience, greater than any dog had ever experienced. Before long, the force started to stop, and the sound softened to nothing at all. Laika began to feel the weightless sensation she had become so used to. Laika had made it to space. Staring out the capsule’s small window, she could see the stars and the world she had left behind, the world that had left her behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laika stayed in orbit for over an hour, and nearing the two-hour mark, she had made a full orbit around the world, becoming the first living being to do so. Laika was not aware of this momentous occasion; however, she was more aware of the immense heat that she was being cooked in. The temperature had risen so much that it was almost unbearable for our canine cosmonaut, but that wasn’t the only threat Laika faced. The capsule was starting to creak and bend, folding in on itself, succumbing to the pressure difference outside the capsule. The Sputnik 2 was never meant to return with Laika inside. The competition drove them to rush the creation and skip over integral aspects that would keep Laika alive. They decided Laika was just a pawn that unfortunately had to go in order to win this game with America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shuttle shook, knocking Laika off her seat. As she regained her paws, she noticed a small sack now opened from the shaking of the capsule, inside a treat Laika could smell. Due to the fact she was only sent with a small amount of food that was quickly gone, she went straight for the food in the sack. As she reached her head into the bag, a collar automatically fastened itself around Laika\u2019s neck. Continuing with the collar, a harness came out of the bag as Laika went further into the unfolding sack. Laika was attached to the sack and harness now. Moments later, the walls continued to fold in, and the window began to crack. In almost an instant, the glass broke, and Laika and everything else was dragged out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Laika was floating, or rather falling back to the earth that cast her away. Closer to the stars than anyone had ever been. As if Icarus had been told to fly close to the sun instead of warned against. They made Laika fly too high, and now she was to fall back to the earth. But suddenly, the sack attached to Laika by the harness caught the air and folded out into a large parachute. Slowly Laika floated high above the mountains and clouds. A grander sight than any had ever seen. Laika was seen by all, the glorious sight that was almost lost to the greed of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n