With an estimated 298,192 residents in 2016,[7] it is Alaska's most populous city and contains more than 40 percent of the state's total population; among the 50 states, only New York has a higher percentage of residents who live in its most populous city.
NOVEMBER 3, 1957: The Soviet Union sent the first living creature into space on this day in 1957 after a dog was rocketed into orbit. Laikaâs arrival on board Sputnik II delighted science fans - but angered animal lovers and humiliated the Americans, who at that time were yet to send up even a satellite.
Wellâ¦ yes, if the topic is the first animal to go into space, then it was a dog that beat man to the punch by about four years. The dogâs name was Laika, a member (after a fashion) of the Russian cosmonaut program. She was the first animal to go into space, to orbit the Earth, and, as an added â though dubious â honor, was also the first animal to die in space. Laikaâs sacrifice paved the way for human spaceflight and also taught the Russians a few things about what would be needed in order for a human to survive a spaceflight.