Historical eventNovember 31957

Sputnik 2

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the space dog Laika as the first living creature to enter orbit around Earth.

Everything on November 3Original source

In context

When
Sunday, November 3 195769 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1950s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: From 1957.

What happened

The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, carrying the space dog Laika as the first living creature to enter orbit around Earth.

November 3 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1957Sputnik 2
  2. 1986Compact of Free Association
  3. 1986Iran–Contra affair
  4. 1988Sri Lanka
  5. 1992Arkansas
  6. 1994Space Shuttle program
  7. 1996Abdullah Çatlı
  8. 1997Economic sanctions
  9. 20022002 Marib airstrike
  10. 2014One World Trade Center
  11. 20202020 United States presidential election

Also in 1957

  • September 9Dwight D. EisenhowerU.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first civil rights bill since Reconstruction.
  • October 14Turia (river)After three days of heavy rain, the Turia overflowed and flooded the city of Valencia, Spain, causing at least 81 deaths.
  • October 3Superior Courts of CaliforniaThe California State Superior Court rules that the book Howl and Other Poems is not obscene.
  • September 4Orval FaubusGovernor Orval Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine African-American students from attending Little Rock Central H…
  • September 4Civil rights movementAmerican Civil Rights Movement: Little Rock Crisis: The governor of Arkansas calls out the National Guard to prevent African American stu…
  • May 1Vickers VC.1 VikingA Vickers VC.1 Viking crashes while attempting to return to Blackbushe Airport in Yateley, killing 34.
  • January 5United States CongressIn a speech given to the United States Congress, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces the establishment of what will la…
  • January 1Lèse-majesté in ThailandThe revised Thai criminal code came into force, strengthening the law on lèse-majesté in Thailand to include insult and treating it as a…

Everything we record for 1957 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Sputnik 2”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/sputnik-2-1957-november-3, accessed October 25, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Sputnik 2 happen?

November 3 1957 — 69 years ago, on a Sunday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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