The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union" id="mwAQs" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Soviet Union">Soviet</a> satellite <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_2" id="mwAQw" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Sputnik 2">Sputnik 2</a> falls from orbit after a mission duration of 162 days. This was the first spacecraft to carry a living animal, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_space_dogs" id="mwAQ0" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Soviet space dogs">female dog</a> named <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika" id="mwAQ4" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Laika">Laika</a>, who likely lived only a few hours.