\<COLOUR 1> LAUNCH DATE: \<COLOUR 0> November 3, 1957
\<COLOUR 1> LAUNCH SITE: \<COLOUR 0> Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Central Asia
\<COLOUR 1> LAUNCH VEHICLE: \<COLOUR 0> A/SL-1
\<COLOUR 1> ORBIT: \<COLOUR 0> 212/1,660 km
\<COLOUR 1> SIZE: \<COLOUR 0> Height - 1.2 metres
\<COLOUR 1> WEIGHT: \<COLOUR 0> 508 kg
\<COLOUR 1> COUNTRY: \<COLOUR 0> USSR
\<COLOUR 1> COMMENTS: \<COLOUR 0> The second artificial satellite, notable because of its enormous weight, and for carrying the first space traveller, a dog called Laika; Laika, housed in a pressurized cabin, survives for several days; the satellite remains in space until April 14, 1958.