Due to a power issue, it looks like the lander may now no longer have sufficient fuel to make a controlled landing on the moon. This was the lander that was set to carry human remains to the moon despite objections from the Navajo nation. Hopefully, this discourages any future attempts at such a stunt, since instead of a permanent mausoleum your ashes may instead be stranded in orbit or scattered amongst the moon dust if the thing crashes.
I only recently realized Laika became such “A Thing” for Red Scare reasons. Long before Laika, the macaque named Albert was killed by the US Space program, and the subsequent primates who – having been denied the dignity of being called something beyond version numbers – were named Albert II - V, all either died in transit or, in II’s case, on impact with the Earth (I think V burnt up on re-entry, but I’m not sure). It was only with Yorick (“Albert VI”) that one actually got to breath Earth’s air after reaching space, which took place after a pair of Soviet dogs survived their return.
Not that Laika’s case wasn’t sad, but I think it’s comparatively overblown to talk about the Cruel Soviets.
Edit: I feel obliged to acknowledge the irony that the one named Yorick survived where all his predecessors died.
honestly didn’t know that. Another thing I’ve been brainwashed by.
Jesus Christ, maybe we should make a sun cannon to remove nuclear waste and then leave the rest of space alone. We obviously are not good at touching it without cruelty.
Edit: Maybe not even that, we’ll probably miss and somehow hit a baby.