# Sputnik 2

> Soviet artificial satellite that took the dog Laika to the space

**Wikidata**: [Q190555](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q190555)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sputnik-2

## Summary
Sputnik 2 was a Soviet artificial Earth satellite and biosatellite that carried the dog Laika into space. It was launched on 1957-11-03 as part of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik programme and operated in low Earth orbit before reentering the atmosphere on 1958-04-14.

## Key Facts
- Sputnik 2 was a Soviet artificial satellite of the Earth and a biosatellite (a satellite designed to carry life in space).
- Sputnik 2 carried the dog Laika into space.
- Launch date: 1957-11-03.
- Launch site (start point): Gagarin's Start.
- Launch vehicle: Sputnik (small Soviet carrier rocket).
- COSPAR ID: 1957-002A.
- Operator/manufacturer: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.
- Orbit type: low Earth orbit; orbital period: 103.73 minutes; inclination: 65.3°; eccentricity: 0.0990965.
- Orbit parameters: periapsis 211 km; apoapsis 1659 km (Earth).
- Atmospheric entry / orbit decay date: 1958-04-14 (noted with location “Antilles”); orbits completed: 2570.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Sputnik 2?
A: Sputnik 2 was a Soviet artificial Earth satellite and biosatellite. It is known for carrying the dog Laika into space as part of the Sputnik programme.

### Q: When was Sputnik 2 launched and when did it reenter?
A: Sputnik 2 launched on 1957-11-03 from Gagarin's Start. It later underwent atmospheric entry (orbit decay) on 1958-04-14.

### Q: What orbit did Sputnik 2 fly in?
A: Sputnik 2 orbited in low Earth orbit. Its orbit had a periapsis of 211 km, an apoapsis of 1659 km, and an orbital period of 103.73 minutes.

### Q: What instruments did Sputnik 2 carry?
A: Sputnik 2 carried scientific instruments including a spectrophotometer and a Geiger counter. It also carried a pressure sensor.

### Q: How does Sputnik 2 relate to other Sputnik satellites?
A: Sputnik 2 followed Sputnik 1 and was followed by Sputnik 3. It was part of the Sputnik programme.

## Why It Matters
Sputnik 2 matters because it was a biosatellite mission within the Soviet Union’s Sputnik programme and is specifically documented as carrying a living passenger—Laika—into space. As an artificial Earth satellite operating in low Earth orbit, it also represents an early stage of orbital spacecraft development, with recorded orbital parameters (including periapsis, apoapsis, inclination, and period) and a defined mission lifecycle from launch to atmospheric entry. Its instrumentation (including a spectrophotometer, Geiger counter, and pressure sensor) indicates that it was not only a payload-carrying satellite but also a platform for collecting measurements in space. The mission’s place in sequence—following Sputnik 1 and preceding Sputnik 3—situates it within a rapid progression of Soviet satellite efforts. Its documented reentry date and completed-orbit count provide concrete markers of operational duration and orbital persistence for a 1957-era spacecraft.

## Notable For
- A biosatellite mission that carried the dog Laika into space.
- Part of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik programme, positioned between Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 3.
- Documented low Earth orbit with periapsis 211 km and apoapsis 1659 km.
- Recorded atmospheric entry (orbit decay) on 1958-04-14 (location noted as “Antilles”).
- Carried scientific instruments including a spectrophotometer, Geiger counter, and pressure sensor.

## Body
### Identity and Classification
- Name: Sputnik 2
- Description: Soviet artificial satellite that took the dog Laika to the space.
- Instance of:
  - Artificial satellite of the Earth
  - Biosatellite
- Part of: Sputnik programme (Soviet Union)

### Program Context and Sequence
- Follows: Sputnik 1 (first artificial Earth satellite)
- Followed by: Sputnik 3 (Soviet research satellite)

### Launch and Operations
- Significant event: rocket launch
  - Date: 1957-11-03
  - Location (launch site/start point): Gagarin's Start
  - Launch vehicle: Sputnik
- Operator: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Manufacturer: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Mass: 508.3 kg (qualified as applying to the rocket launch)

### Orbit and Flight Characteristics
- Orbit regime: low Earth orbit
- Orbital period: 103.73 minutes
- Inclination: 65.3° (Earth)
- Eccentricity: 0.0990965
- Periapsis: 211 km (Earth)
- Apoapsis: 1659 km (Earth)
- Semi-major axis: 7314.2 km
- Orbits completed: 2570
- Duration (as recorded): 13,996,800 seconds

### End of Mission
- Significant event: atmospheric entry
  - Date: 1958-04-14
  - Location noted: Antilles
- Time of object orbit decay: 1958-04-14

### Payload and Instruments
- Carried passenger: the dog Laika
- Scientific instruments carried:
  - Spectrophotometer
  - Geiger counter
  - Pressure sensor

### Identifiers and Reference Links
- COSPAR ID: 1957-002A
- NSSDC SCN: 00003
- Commons category: Sputnik-2
- Wikipedia title: Sputnik 2
- Aliases include: Prosteyshiy Sputnik 2, Sputnik II, Спутник 2, and others.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
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  "description": "Soviet artificial Earth satellite and biosatellite that carried the dog Laika into space.",
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## References

1. [Sputnik 2. NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1957-002A)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](https://www.espace-sciences.org/planetarium/article/l-extraordinaire-histoire-de-laika)