Laika Day: 3 November

I want to suggest we commemorate "Laika Day" on 3 November every year, the anniversary of the day, in 1957, when the dog Laika was launched into space in Sputnik 2, in remembrance of all the animals who have suffered or died in the cause of human research.

Laika posing in the little capsule that would be sent up into orbit.

Animals have played a role in many areas of research that have eased the suffering and saved millions of people. We should not turn away from the part they have played in the betterment of our lives. Having a day when we remember how we have used - and continue to use - animals for our own ends might help us think more carefully about how we treat all creatures great and small that are not humans. Please share this petition with others whom you think might want to support Laika.

In reporting Laika's story Wikipedia states: "Laika was a Soviet space dog who was one of the first animals in space and the first to orbit the Earth. A stray mongrel from the streets of Moscow, she flew aboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft, launched into low orbit on 3 November 1957. As the technology to de-orbit had not yet been developed, Laika's survival was never expected. She died of overheating hours into the flight, on the craft's fourth orbit."

Laika touched the public conscience and her brief life was celebrated in many ways.

"During launch acceleration, Laika's respiration increased by 3-4 times and her heart rate increased to 240 beats/min over pre-launch rates. After three hours of weightlessness, her pulse settled back to 102 beats/min, three times longer than her recovery had taken during earlier ground tests, an indication of the stress she was under. At this time, telemetry indicated that Laika was agitated but eating her food. However, after 5-7 hours into the flight, no further signs of life were received from the spacecraft."

The scientisits and technicians knew that her capsule was her coffin.

Laika was involved in the Soviet space program, although the flight of Sputnik II was driven as much by propaganda (to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Russian October Revolution) as by research into the possibility of manned space flight, which makes her death even harder to justify, or comprehend. Of one thing I am certain: She would not have chosen to die. All I hope is that she trusted her handlers, and she went into that claustrophobic capsule on top of the massive Sputnik II booster as a well-prepared and brave little dog.

Of course, she is only one of countless animals who have been part of the history of scientific research, very many of whom will likely never be known or recognized for the part they played. Laika can become a symbol for them all, and offer us a day to reflect on our place in the world, how much we owe, and the care we should give to all the other creatures we share the planet with. 

We owe Laika a memorial for her trust in us. Let that memorial be Laika Day.

Please join my petition at Change.org.