The Sputnik 2 is a spacecraft that carried the first ever animal in space, a dog named Laika. She was a stray taken in to a space program and they only used female dogs because they were considered to be calmer in a confined space. The sputnik 2 was launched in celebration for the Bulshevik Revolution. Sadly Laika was unable to return because there was no plans for her to, and she died in Orbit.