On Nov. 3, 1957, the Soviets launched the Sputnik 2 satellite with a female terrier on board, the first living creature to be sent to space and orbit Earth. Though her contraption was stocked with more than a week’s worth of water and gelatin food, the extreme temperatures killed her after a day or two. Her mission helped scientists learn more about space’s biological effects on animals.
The 15 Most Influential Animals That Ever Lived
From a horse that conquered the world to a dog that helped a man win the White House, a look at the creatures that most shaped human history