Спутник

Fifty years ago today, the Soviet Union initiated humanity into the space age with the first successful launch of a spacecraft to orbit the earth. Sputnik 1 orbited the earth for about three months, then re-entered the atmosphere and disentigrated, sort of like Bush’s presidency.

Sputnik 2 heralded the space program’s first living being in space and its first casualty. The Soviets included a small dog named Laika as a passenger in order to monitor her vital signs during the flight. However, they included no food, water or pooper-scoopers and no way for Laika to return to Earth. She perished from overheating after a few hours and, subsequently, PETA was born.

The Sputnik program continues to this day. Did you know that? I think they’re up to Sputnik 40-something by now.

Do any of you remember where you were during the first lunar landing? I'll bet you don't, because it wasn't televised in the U.S.

In February 1966, the Soviets beat the Americans to the moon with the first successful lunar landing. Luna 9 landed on the moon, took several photographs and transmitted them back to earth, one of which contained the corpse of a small dog.