Studio 360 barked in to invite us to join them in celebrating the anniversary of Sputnik. They will be covering the story of Laika, the dog who was sacrificed to the space race.

Maybe it’s just me but but the story of Laika always depresses me. I think about this poor girl who was pulled off the streets of Russia, learned to trust the untrustworthy humans and then propelled to her death alone in space. Is this something to celebrate? I think not. I feel more like its something to mourn and, as a human, to feel guilty for.

Laika had no choice in being the sacrifice. She didn’t raise her paw to volunteer. She just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Laika, can you forgive us selfish humans for sacrificing you to our vanity? If no one else will, I apologize for your betrayal.

This is from Studio 360:

Greetings from Studio 360, Public Radio International’s Peabody Award-winning, nationally syndicated weekly show about creativity, pop culture and the arts, hosted by Kurt Andersen.

We thought you might be interested in this week’s segment about Laika, the first dog in space. Here’s a quick description:

A month after Sputnik went up, the Soviets launched Sputnik 2, with a very famous passenger: Laika, a mutt from the streets of Moscow. She never made it home. The writer John Haskell has this tribute, part fact and part fiction, to the canine cosmonaut.

Also on this week’s show: We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sputnik and look at the satellite’s long-lasting impact on American culture, language and design. Plus, a look at the fantasy-filled TV season; and 1960s-style soul from
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.

Visit us on the web at www.studio360.org to find station listings, browse our archives or just listen to the show. The show can also be heard as a podcast or purchased from audible.com.