Laika was a pioneer. She was the first mammal in space, the first living thing in orbit. Prior to her flight no one knew if complex animals could withstand the stresses of launch and orbital insertion, or could breath, drink and eat in extended microgravity. Sadly she died after a few hours due to inadequacies of the spacecraft cooling system. Her flight paved the way for Gagarin, Shepherd, and all the other. RIP Laika.