The starlet journalist sang in outer space. Leonov's Rise: how Izvestia covered the first spacewalk. About the monument to the dog Zvezdochka
Hello my dear readers! Today we have a truly incredible topic. They say that Yuri Gagarin, after his flight, at the next event, uttered a phrase that became known to a wide audience only in our time. “I still can’t understand,” he said, “who I am: “the first person after the dog.”
Zvezdochka is an astronaut dog in orbit.
This phrase was considered a joke, but, as you know, every joke hides some truth. The road to space for Yuri Gagarin was paved... by dogs. They were the ones who explored near-Earth orbits, they barked at meteorites and looked at the sky in surprise.
I don’t remember many dog names that are associated with space... But for some reason I especially remember the dog astronaut Zvezdochka. And her story will become the basis for today’s excursion into history...
Many of my acquaintances and friends wanted to become astronauts. But, for some reason, I was not among those who dream of space. I believe that I have not yet been able to see everything on earth, having not visited the places that I added to my list. Therefore, if they tell me now: “Do you want to fly into space tomorrow for several years?”, I will immediately say: “No! For a day or two, of course, but for a year or longer - no.”
If among my readers there are astronauts or simply lovers of space and everything connected with it, I’m waiting for photos and comments under this post. Your opinion and the fact that you read my blog are very important to me.
This March marked 55 years since the Soyuz test launched a satellite with Zvezdochka sitting in it and a cosmonaut dummy on board. This launch was the last before Yuri Gagarin was sent into space.
Why not “Luck”, but “Star”
At the end of March 1961, two weeks before Yuri's first flight into space, Zvezdochka's flight took place. They say that Gagarin himself gave the name to the dog before the launch, and initially it was called Luck. The dog was accompanied on board by a mannequin, which was named "Ivan Ivanovich".
The flight itself on the Vostok 2 - ZKA spacecraft was successful: after 120 minutes of flight, the ship was deorbited, and during the descent, the cosmonaut dummy's seat was ejected from it. The container with Zvezdochka was located in the descent module, and it also miraculously landed in the required area.
Specially trained people came to look for Zvezdochka in the Perm region, but due to bad weather it was not possible to immediately begin the search. The pilot of the Izhevsk air squad was going to find the dog. Lev Karlovich Okkelman quickly found the dog, he fed it, warmed it and put it to rest
In the same year, a Union postage stamp was issued, which was dedicated to the flight of the satellite with a dog at the controls. And at the end of March 10 years ago, the “Conquerors of Space” monument was solemnly opened in Izhevsky Park.
Animals that have been in space - could anything be more mysterious? What do you know about this? Surely, Zvezdochka was not the first animal to be launched into earth orbit.
First place in the category: “Animals in Space” wins Belka and Strelka
Do you know that the first dogs in space, Belka and Strelka, were mongrels?!
In the early sixties, there were no more popular animals in the union than these two friends. Well, of course! They were the first to fly on an incredible spacecraft for more than two days and look at the planet. How God loves them, because they returned home safe and sound!
The popularity of the two yard dogs was too great. One Strelka puppy, fur-haired Fluff, on the personal instructions of Nikita Khrushchev, was sent overseas to the wife of President John F. Kennedy, the amazing Jacqui, as a souvenir.
Apart from a dozen secret specialists, no one in those years had any idea: in order for Belka and Strelka to fly into space, they would have to ruin the lives of eighteen innocent mongrels.
The worst thing for me: the dog can die, and we can’t do anything to help it, we can’t bring the ship back, but we only need to act according to a predetermined and agreed upon plan...
Have you ever wanted to go to space? And also, maybe someone from my subscribers visited the glorious city of Izhevsk, I’m waiting for your photos near the legendary monument to our beloved Zvezdochka.
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October 11, 2019 became the day of death of twice Hero of the Soviet Union Alexei Leonov - the man who was the first in the world to go into outer space. Today Izvestia remembers this flight by publishing pages from newspaper issues of 1965, which informed the Soviet people and the whole world about the feat of the legendary cosmonaut.
Hello from space
“Wardest greetings to the readers of Izvestia! Having returned from space, we are pleased to announce that the mission was successfully completed! We take this opportunity to thank all Soviet people for the attention they have shown us,” these words of Alexei Leonov and his flight partner Pavel Belyaev were published in the Izvestia newspaper on March 20.
But the first issue with large portraits of astronauts was released on the day of the flight - March 18. Already in the evening, the newspaper published articles, photos, poems, lightning from foreign agencies, as well as interviews with famous cosmonauts that were taken even before departure.
At the top it says in big letters: “This has never happened before! A man in space got out of the ship! The Soviet people have opened a new bright page in the conquest of the stellar world.”
Below: “Today, March 18, 1965, at 11:30 am Moscow time, during the flight of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft, a man exited the ship into outer space for the first time. On the second orbit of the flight, the second pilot, pilot-cosmonaut, Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov, in a special space suit with an autonomous life support system, entered outer space, moved away from the ship at a distance of up to five meters, successfully carried out a set of planned studies and observations and returned safely to the ship. With the help of an on-board television system, the process of Comrade Leonov’s exit into outer space, his work outside the ship and his return to the ship were transmitted to Earth and observed by a network of ground stations.”
“The American news agencies AP and UPI interrupted their regular broadcasts to convey as the most urgent news the message about the entry into orbit of the Soviet spacecraft Voskhod-2, piloted by cosmonauts Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov.”
“Everything is simple, except for the fact that a person who needs warmth, needs pressure on all points of the body, needs oxygen to breathe, will find himself in a place where deadly cold reigns, where there is such emptiness that all life in it instantly dies, where there is no life-giving oxygen"
“Yesterday I took a quick look at the full house - they were announcing the sensational news that Alexei Leonov, a Russian, had gone off-board into space for the first time.<...>What could we say other than the obvious truths: fantastic, incredible, improbable" (English writer James Aldridge)
“Please convey my personal congratulations to cosmonauts Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov, as well as the group of Soviet scientists and engineers who made this historic feat possible” (UN Secretary-General U Thant)
The second page is dedicated to greetings from completely different people - poets, writers, workers, a former instructor from the school Alexei Leonov, hockey players, a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, a retired Tbilisi major general, the Lviv chairman of a collective farm and even the entire city of Khabarovsk, where people took to the streets to rejoice and rejoice.
“The TASS message about the launch of a new space crew came to Khabarovsk at a time when the city had just finished its working day. Young people were crowding at the entrance to the “Giant” cinema, listening to radio advertisements about new films, when suddenly: “Attention! Moscow speaks!..” The crowd immediately moves to another speaker, which is 100 meters away from the cinema. There is curiosity on their faces, then joy and, finally, delight. Applause, laughter, exchange of opinions."
Flight inspiration
Many verses attract attention. They are posted on every page of the newspaper. Different styles, different aspects of flight are reflected in these texts, but it is clear: people are proud, people are inspired. And it is impossible to fake it.
Our records have been broken again.
Earth, put on a smart dress.
Moscow brought tomorrow into the orbit of humanity.
The whole world claps its palms in admiration, sings glory to labor and courage,
The epoch of the Voskhod ship's revolutions is wrapping itself around us.
Arthur Moreau. Translation from Mordovian by Enna Dedova.
“Alexey suddenly clapped his hands on his knees and laughed:
- I will definitely take paints or, at worst, colored pencils with me on the ship. You see, everyone who flew admired the color scheme of the dawn, as seen from space. I tried it several times: I’ll sit someone flying next to me and, at his prompting, I’ll draw a cosmic sunrise. Everything turns out right - according to the story, but in general - not so. Now I’ll try from life!”
The interview also interestingly described the moment when Leonov was offered to join the cosmonaut corps. For a long time they did not tell him what exactly he would do, but they hinted at very interesting work. Alexey could not figure out that it would be connected with space. And so I asked the most important thing:
- Will it be possible to get married?
The whole commission just went downhill...
- Of course you can!
- Well, then everything is in order.
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov died in Moscow at the age of 85. This became known on Friday, October 11. In 1960, he was enlisted in the first cosmonaut corps along with Yuri Gagarin, and in 1965 he became the first person to walk in outer space. More details in the Izvestia gallery
In the spring of 1960, military pilot first class Alexei Leonov was enrolled in the first detachment of the Cosmonaut Training Center. Together with him, Yuri Gagarin and German Titov were also included in this detachment. In the photo: from left to right - squad members Yuri Gagarin, Alexey Leonov, Boris Volynov and Viktor Gorbatko at a picnic in Dolgoprudny near Moscow
Photo: wikipedia.org/Aliev Alexandr Ibragimovich
Alexey Leonov made his first space flight in 1965 as the co-pilot of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft. Then he became the first person to go into outer space. He was outside the ship for a little more than 12 minutes
Photo: Global Look Press/Polska Agencja Prasowa
Marked "Lightning"
On the third page there are reports from foreign news agencies. They all “scream” about the new success of Soviet science and technology. London, Tokyo, New York, Paris, Bonn, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Berlin are delighted with the feat of the cosmonauts.
Reuters emphasizes: “With the launch of their new spacecraft, the Russians have once again beaten the United States in the space competition.” The United States, the agency points out, plans to launch its first spacecraft with two astronauts on board next week.
The fourth page of the issue is devoted to the everyday side of the life of astronauts. There are many photographs here: Belyaev is with his family in the forest, in another photo his daughter is playing the piano. Alexey Leonov before a night training flight, Alexey Leonov with an easel and with his daughter.
And the main photo on the right is a blurry, barely visible white spot on a black background in the frame of a television screen. Signed underneath:
“The man got out of the ship. Millions of television viewers saw the feat of Alexei Leonov with their own eyes. This picture was taken by our correspondent from a blue screen.”
Theorist with a capital T
“The door to the Universe is open” - these are the words that open the issue of March 19th. There is already a large official part here. Under the opening photograph of cosmonauts in spacesuits is Leonid Brezhnev, who was captured at the moment of the call to Belyaev and Leonov.
And with him: “G.I. Voronov, A.P. Kirilenko, A.N. Kosygin, A.I. Mikoyan, N.V. Podgorny, D.S. Polyansky, M.A. Suslov, V.V. Grishin, P.N. Demichev, L.F. Ilyichev, B.N. Ponomarev, A.P. Rudakov, V.N. Titov. Present here are the Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, comrades D.F. Ustinov, V.E. Dymshits, M.A. Lesechko P.F. Lomako, I.T. Novikov, K.N. Rudnev, L.V. Smirnov."
The second page is interesting because in the basement there is conversation with the Cosmonautics Theorist. It is important that the word “theorist” is written with a capital letter, but his full name is missing. It is clear that our scientists working in the space field were then completely classified, but Izvestia still found the opportunity to display them on its pages.
Here, the “Cosmonautics Theorist” tells Izvestia about why Alexei Leonov needed to go into outer space:
“We had to make sure what the reactions are to weightlessness in free space. Yesterday, when you and I saw Leonov in space outside the ship’s cabin, it became obvious that our scientists imagined this side of the matter correctly,” the Theorist answers.
A person in space is deprived of any support. Will any remedies be needed to help him stabilize himself?
In my opinion, the main thing is to develop the appropriate skills. Judge for yourself. After all, even on Earth, a person, it would seem, should have been very unstable: the center of gravity of his body is much higher than the support, that is, the feet. However, as you know, there is no problem of balance for humans on Earth.”
This seems strange, but scientists are still discovering for science the secrets of man’s balance on Earth, his ability to walk without falling. Theorists of that time already asked this question. They also talked about the fact that someday the first space station might appear in orbit.
Izvestia, March 18, 1965: Today, March 18, 1965, at 11:30 am Moscow time, during the flight of the Voskhod-2 spacecraft, a man exited the ship into outer space for the first time.
“Izvestia”, March 19, 1965: On March 19 at 12:02 Moscow time, the Voskhod-2 spacecraft, piloted by a crew consisting of the ship’s commander, Colonel Pavel Ivanovich Belyaev, and the co-pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Alexey Arkhipovich Leonov, landed safely near the city of Perm . Comrades Belyaev and Leonov feel good “Izvestia”, March 20, 1965: It is they, the Soviet heroes of space - Pavel Ivanovich Belyaev and Alexei Arkhipovich Leonov, who are applauded by the whole world, it is they, the glorious sons of the Land of the Soviets, who opened the door to the Universe
“Spaceships will be able to exchange crews upon meeting, when a person is able to enter space. We will still live to see the time when orbital stations appear in space - something like research institutes in near-Earth space.
Let's return to Leonov, says the Izvestia correspondent. Was there any danger that it would be hit by a meteorite?
It must be said that the meteorite danger in general turned out to be less than it was thought before its appearance in space.”
The third and fourth pages of March 19 Izvestia are entirely devoted to space science. This also raises the issue of using the principles of biocontrol - the same robots working in copying mode that went into space only in 2019(referring to the flight of the robot "Fedora"). We are already talking about satellites that can be launched to transmit a television signal. A separate article is devoted to space clothing. Until now, our spacesuit designers occupy leading positions in the world.
Gagarin on a wire
On March 20, Izvestia again opens with a large photo of Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov. On the first page there is also an interview with Yuri Gagarin. During Leonov's spacewalk, Gagarin, who was at the Mission Control Center, maintained constant contact with the Voskhod-2 crew. He told Izvestia journalists about the details of the flight, the landing of the spacecraft and recent conversations with the Voskhod crew.
On the fourth page is a note from the British writer and journalist James Aldridge.
“What do I usually think about on the way home? I rarely have to dream about exploring the Universe, I often worry about whether I can pay my bills, what fate awaits my job, whether my children will be able to get the necessary education... I am infinitely glad that I am lucky enough to live in a time when we not only stand on the threshold of space discoveries, but we are also entering a new world, before which an endless future has opened. It is difficult to express in words the impression that Soviet achievements make on the rest of the world. Nothing, in fact, could prove so clearly and tangibly the correctness of the socialist system.”
“When I opened the exit hatch, a powerful stream of light hit me. As if from an electric arc. I had to listen to my comrades more than once about what space looks like. It seemed like I was prepared. But the picture looked completely different. Not the way I imagined,” says Leonov on the pages of Izvestia.
Below he continues:
“I sent greetings to everyone, and especially to the lilies of the valley,” Lesha smiles. (Lilies of the valley means cosmonaut friends. This is not a code name, but a joke that has taken root in the detachment).
Here are some terse lines about the return. Of course, Leonov didn’t say a word about the situation that happened with his spacesuit.
- How was the return to the ship? - asks the Izvestia correspondent.
- This is somewhat more difficult. First of all, I had more work. I'm a little tired. But everything went well! According to the program, I had to wrap the halyard around my hand and enter like that. I see - this is boring. I thought, mentally pulled myself by the ear - and figured out how to cope faster. Then the commander quickly closed the hatch and applied pressure.
Did it feel like you were returning to your home?
The feeling is similar.
- (to Belyaev) By the way, what did Lesha say when he returned?
Both look at each other and laugh.
- Should I say?.. Don’t? - Belyaev laughs.
- We'll tell you later! - Lesha begs.
The history of space exploration is replete with legends and myths. All these stories are capable of causing horror and admiration at the same time. They have long been part of our great history. Remaining in the memory of an entire generation of people, one way or another, associated with the exploration of near-Earth orbit. Unfortunately, most of these myths do not have material evidence. However, even among legends there are exceptions. The biggest mystery happened on May 17, 1961. It was on this day that two Italian radio amateurs (now such enthusiasts are called “radiospoters”), Italian brothers Achille and Giovanni Battista Judica-Cordigliovi, recorded a very strange and scary radio broadcast.
Quote from the Internet: “After Gagarin’s flight, all the flying clubs in the country were looking for pretty girl paratroopers - Khrushchev really wanted a Soviet woman to become the first in space. A squad of future cosmonauts was formed in 1962. It included Valentina Tereshkova, Zhanna Yorkina, Tatyana Kuznetsova , Valentina Ponomareva and Irina Solovyova. And Sergei Korolev himself commanded the “parade”. But, apparently, the very first woman was that same Lyudmila. And she made her fatal flight on May 17, 1961. I did not find the strength to somehow evaluate the veracity of the original recording. However, I think she is real. And if so, then let this “restored” phonogram be a virtual monument. In memory of all those who died in the name of the triumph of science. By making our country a great space power. Let the voice of this woman forever remain in our memory. And I am sure that once you hear it, you will never forget the USSR cosmonaut “Lyudmila”, cosmonaut No....
Achille and Giovanni Battista Giudica-Cordigliovi.
The radio station that recorded this radio broadcast in 1960
On March 25, 2006, a monument to the cosmonaut dog Zvezdochka was unveiled in Izhevsk in the park on Molodezhnaya Street. The dog's history is engraved on it and the names of the specialists who paved the way for her into space are written. The text is duplicated in Braille (for blind people).
And this place was not chosen by chance,” says Pavel Medvedev, sculptor of the dog Zvezdochka. - It was at this place in 1961 that the runway of the old airport was where the dog landed.
And the idea of such a monument belongs to the journalist and scientist Sergei Pakhomov.
We also involved children in the creation of this monument,” says Sergei. “They started collecting waste paper and donated it to the blind society. This money was enough to buy metal. We did the rest of the work as a gift.
Unfortunately, now no one looks after the monument except its creators. Two days ago Sergei painted the monument. When the street dries out, Pavel Medvedev will polish it up.
About the monument to the dog Zvezdochka
Ball diameter - 1.30 m.
Height - 1.80 m.
Metal - cast iron.
THE ADVENTURE OF A STAR
On March 25, 1961 (17 days before the first man flew into space), an explosion occurred over the village of Foki (now Chaikovsky district). Two parachutes opened in the sky. On one a man was descending, on the second - a huge ball.
Spies, spies! - local residents shouted, collecting axes and shovels to attack the infiltrators.
But on the found ball there were inscriptions in Russian...
Gagarin's fate depended on the dog
Before launching a man into space, a lot of preparatory work was done. They "trained" mainly on dogs. But something was always wrong.
The last test satellite ship with the dog Zvezdochka on board was launched, says Roza Zezyanova, head of the Izhevsk school museum of aviation and cosmonautics.- Great hopes were placed on him. Who knows, if the dog-cosmonaut had not returned to earth alive, perhaps Yuri Gagarin would not have made his legendary flight on April 12.
The dogs were expected to land in Kuibyshev (now Samara), Perm and Izhevsk. Search groups from Moscow arrived at our airport in the morning. We were preparing for the meeting. When a signal was received that the “object” (a capsule-balloon with a dog on board) had landed between Sarapul and Tchaikovsky, Izhevsk pilot Lev Okkelman was sent to look for Zvezdochka, since the Moscow Li-2 plane could not take off due to bad weather.
“I got into my nimble Yak-12,” recalls Lev Karlovich. - They gave me two KGB officers as my “load.” After a while I saw a silver ball and a parachute barely visible on the white snow.
"I was told to look for an intelligent dog"
And from the ground, the landing of Zvezdochka was watched by local residents who mistook the astronaut dog for an American spy.
We didn’t even think about a satellite then,” sighs Dmitry Mazutin, military commissar of the Fokinsky (Chaikovsky) district. - The launch was not reported anywhere. We assembled a search group and went to find out what kind of miracle had come to us.
Not far from the village of Karsha they found the ball.
He "squeaked". The equipment probably worked,” continues Mazutin. - The entire surface of the ball was covered with rubber plates, some of which burned out. We called the military registration and enlistment office and reported the find. We were told that everything was already in the know, and specialists from Moscow asked us to tell us to save the dog. What kind of dog? About a dozen dogs were running around us and having fun. Which one needs to be saved? I thought that the dog must be intelligent. But there were no such people.
Zvezdochka spent the night at Izhevsk airport
When we landed,” says Lev Okkelman, “we were very worried about Zvezdochka. Is she alive?! But they did not touch the ship without permission from above. We waited for the Muscovites. They arrived the next day when the weather improved. The satellite ship was cleared of mines. The dog was in its place. She sat quietly in a separate compartment behind a closed lid. Everyone was very happy!
The heroine, as well as the capsule in which she flew into space, were transported to Izhevsk airport.
The star was taken to the boss's office. “A very sociable and affectionate dog,” Lev Karlovich smiles. “They gave her something to drink, fed her with sausage, and after that she fell asleep like the dead.” Still would! Survived space flight!
Then the Muscovites took Zvezdochka to Moscow for examination. Everything went well. Therefore, after 17 days, the whole world rejoiced that a man, Yuri Gagarin, went into space for the first time. Thus, space exploration took place not without the participation of our republic.
THIS IS INTERESTING
Only mongrels were taken into space
Dog candidates for space flights were recruited... in the gateways. These were ordinary mongrels. The Institute of Aviation Medicine received dogs strictly according to specified standards: no heavier than six kilograms (the rocket cabin was designed for light weight) and no higher than 35 centimeters in height.
Mongrels were preferred to dogs with pedigrees for a simple reason. Doctors believed that “door terriers” were forced to fight for survival from the first day. However, remembering that the dogs would have to “show off” on the pages of newspapers, they selected dogs that were beautiful, slender and with intelligent faces. Space pioneers were trained in Moscow on the outskirts of the Dynamo stadium.
The little star flew with Ivan Ivanovich
Few people know that the dog was not alone in the satellite ship. Ivan Ivanovich flew with her - a mannequin, inside of which a capsule with human blood was sewn (it was he who was mistaken for a person descending with a parachute by the people who watched the landing of the satellite). This was done in order to check, upon the return of the “cosmonauts,” whether the composition of the blood had changed, and how, in principle, a person could withstand such overloads.
Legends and name
According to one version, the most common, the dog was first called Luck. But just before the start, Yuri Gagarin christened her Zvezdochka. The second legend says that the dog’s name was Marquise, but a certain responsible worker, having learned her name, said: “Like Marquise! What are you thinking about? After all, the French may be offended that we call our dogs marquises. Rename her asterisk!” They didn't argue with him.
Further fate
After the stellar flight, the dog was sent to an exhibition, and not just anywhere, but to the Moscow Zoo.
They were at the young animals’ site,” says Anna Kachurovskaya, head of the external communications service of the Moscow Zoo.- This exhibition showed animals that had been in space. So, along with Zvezdochka there were dogs Chernushka, Malyshka, Zhulka and puppies Strelka.
What happened to Zvezdochka after the exhibition, unfortunately, is unknown.
March 25 marked 55 years since the USSR test-launched a satellite with the dog Zvezdochka and a cosmonaut dummy on board. This launch was the last test launch of a satellite with a living creature before Yuri Gagarin's flight.
From Luck to Star
On March 25, 1961, 18 days before the first manned flight into space, the dog Zvezdochka took off. They say that he gave the name to the dog before the start, and initially its name was Luck. Along with the dog, the dummy “Ivan Ivanovich” flew on the ship.
The one-orbit flight on the Vostok ZKA No. 2 spacecraft was successful: after two hours of flight, the ship was deorbited, and during the descent, the future cosmonaut’s seat with a dummy was ejected from it. The container with the dog was in the descent module, which also landed safely in a given area, not far from the village of Foki, Chaikovsky district, Perm Territory. Along the way, photo reconnaissance equipment was tested over objects in Turkey and Africa.
A specially trained team arrived in the Perm region to search for Zvezdochka, but due to bad weather conditions it was not possible to begin the search immediately. The pilot of the Izhevsk air squad, Lev Karlovich Okkelman, volunteered to find the dog - he quickly found the cosmonaut dog, fed it snow from his hands, warmed it up and reported to the Il-14 and to the Izhevsk airport that everything was fine.
In the same year, a USSR postage stamp was issued dedicated to the flight of the satellite with Zvezdochka on board. And on March 25, 2006, in Izhevsk, in the park on Molodezhnaya Street, a monument to the cosmonaut dog Zvezdochka was unveiled.
Khrushchev instead of Laika
Asterisk was not the first dog launched into Earth orbit. The first was Laika, a dog-cosmonaut launched into space on November 3, 1957 at half past six in the morning Moscow time on the Soviet ship Sputnik-2. Laika was two years old - and her return to earth was not planned. The dog died from overheating five to seven hours after the start.
“The launch itself and the receipt of... information is all very cool,” wrote Soviet physiologist Oleg Gazenko. - But when you understand that you can’t bring this Laika back, that she’s dying there, and that you can’t do anything, and that no one, not just me, no one can bring her back, because there’s no system for returning, this is some kind of very heavy feeling.
Do you know? When I returned to Moscow from the cosmodrome, and for some time there was still jubilation: speeches on the radio, in newspapers, I left the city. Do you understand? I wanted some privacy.”
Upon learning of Laika's death, Soviet citizens began sending angry letters to the Kremlin, accusing the authorities of cruelty to animals. According to legend, one indignant man even complained that Nikita Khrushchev was not sent into space instead of a dog. “The shaggiest, loneliest, most unfortunate dog in the world” is how the American edition of The New York Times spoke about Laika.
By the way, six years before Laika’s flight, the dogs Dezik and Tsygan were sent into the upper atmosphere on an unmanned rocket. The launch took place on July 22, 1951 from the Kapustin Yar test site in the Astrakhan region. The rocket rose to a height of 101 km and reached the Karman line - an altitude above sea level, which is conventionally accepted as the boundary between the Earth's atmosphere and space.
The flight of Desik and Gypsy inspired scientists: the mammals withstood the overload perfectly, their previously developed conditioned reflexes were preserved in full. “The flight of the dogs proved that rocket flight into the upper atmosphere is safe for living organisms,” the researchers concluded.
Why dogs and not monkeys
Back on May 13, 1946, a secret decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR was issued, in which scientists were required to check the possibility of human flight into space. At that time it was impossible to conduct research into space flight on humans, and it was decided to conduct a series of experiments using animals. Soon two main contenders were announced: dogs and monkeys. But biologists said that monkeys were less trainable and more susceptible to stress, and so it was decided to send dogs into space.
All astronaut dogs were trained to stay in a confined space for a long time, endure strong overloads and vibrations, and not be afraid of loud and incomprehensible sounds. Animals were often sent into space in pairs to eliminate the possibility of individual reactions and to obtain more objective results.
In the USSR, poems and songs were written and films were made about astronaut dogs. And soon a political joke became widespread: “By launching a satellite with dogs, it was scientifically proven that any bitch can be raised to an unattainable height.”