[Verginius Rufus]

I think the US expected to be the first to send satellites into space and was caught off guard by the launching of Sputnik--our first successful launch was several months later, but we had a space program before Sputnik.

Nobody has pointed out the real lesson of Sputnik. On the second Sputnik the Soviets sent up a dog, even though they had no way to bring her back to earth alive. If Communism could kill a poor dog like that so callously, it had to be an evil system.

(Yes, I know they also killed 100 million people, but it's easier to get people worked up over a dog.)

[cynwoody]

Nobody has pointed out the real lesson of Sputnik. On the second Sputnik the Soviets sent up a dog, even though they had no way to bring her back to earth alive. If Communism could kill a poor dog like that so callously, it had to be an evil system.

An old lady once asked Gorbachev whether Communism is philosophy or science. Gorby thought for a moment and answered, “Philosophy”. “I thought so,” exclaimed the babushka, “Scientists would have tried it on animals first!”

[lbryce]

Exactly. Sure, putting a dog in space has some sort of notoriety but is of dubious distinction. It’s like a swimming record that ends in death while in midstream.

[upsdriver]

(Yes, I know they also killed 100 million people, but it's easier to get people worked up over a dog.)

Ain't it the truth.

[Cyber Liberty]

I’m still pretty worked up over Leika, and I wasn’t even born then.