It was a very sad thing, to send an innocent dog into orbit to die of stress and overheating. Oleg Gazenko later admitted that her death was in vain, because they did not get enough information from her, to justify sending her. She was harnessed in a tiny area where there was no room for her to move, she could only stand, sit, or lay down. I can't imagine her fear during liftoff, when the rocket was pulling 6 g's, and making extremely loud sounds. Then the additional shock of weightlessness, the fearful shaking, and the extreme heat conspired to kill her. I remember learning about Laika as a child, and feeling such sadness that it was a one way flight for her. I imagine myself in her position, and it's horrible: The launch, orbiting, knowing that I was not coming down (She had to know, dogs can sense those things), and the horrible heat that she couldn't escape. They should have at least set up a way to safely euthanize her by remote control, so that she didn't have to suffer, and could die a painless death. She was a pitiful, but very courageous little dog that will be remembered forever as the first creature into space, and she certainly deserves the many statues and memorials in her memory.