Laika - The Reluctant Hero (Lajka - Den ofrivilliga hjälten )

This radio documentary tells the story of the first living creature sent into space in November 1957. It is told from Laika’s perspective and summarises how an unknown street dog from Moscow became a world wide celebrity, a symbol for aspiration and an innocent tool in two superpower’s efforts to conquer space. Laika became a heroine of her time, but also an innocent victim whose life was sacrificed for greater needs. Propaganda, commercials and advertisements used her name and picture in order to convince the world that the Soviet Union - once and for all - had won, not only the space race, but the big ideological fight between a communist regime and a liberal-minded Western power. Never was Laika asked if she wanted to participate. This is her story, in her own words.