Talk:Laika

this lot...

whole load of people queuing up to have their favourite pop songs on the page somewhere for reasons mostly specious- yet none of them have noticed that there's a whole entire band with an actual career, named for the space-hound. I'm not going to attempt to shoe-horn it into the article because it doesn't belong.

I only mention it at all because someone, eventually, is bound to come along & say "hey, what about the cultural legacy?"

well, what about it?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laika_(band) duncanrmi (talk) 20:40, 11 August 2024 (UTC)

Issues with article

Hi friends, I came across this article from today's DYK and noticed it doesn't quite seem to be up to our current featured article criteria. I personally am not familiar with the FA process so I'd like to ask the feedback of the editors who understand the FAC and article subject better. The main issue I've seen are the confusing organization (Sputnik 2 to training to ethics). Speaking with some other editors on Discord, there were also concerns over the use of news sources instead of academics sources, although I think it's not horrible. Regardless, some editors have found and added potentially useful sources on the top of this talk page. This article was promoted as a Featured Article 20 years ago, and last given a review 18 years ago(see the top of this talk). Obviously, FA crits have changed since. This was given a seeming mini review on unreviewed featured articles with three satisfactory votes between 2020 and 2022, but perhaps a look from more editors ma be worthwhile, or just a cleanup on what we have. If anyone has any thoughts, please leave them below. PixDeVl yell talk to me! 18:52, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

There is nothing wrong with organization: Sputnik 2 to training to ethics seems logical to me. And I see nothing atrocious with the article to call for its demotion. It duly earned its status and demoting it basing on new bureaucratic whims is a disrespect to article's authors. --Altenmann >talk 19:31, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

Thanks for your comment @Altenmann. As I mentioned, I'm not entirely familiar with the standards of organization in an FA, so your input is greatly appreciated. In semi-hindsight, calling for a demotion this hastily is a bit quick on the trigger on my part, apologies. I'm going to keep this open to see if anyone else has thoughts on the article's state, but no other concerns withstanding, I probably wouldn't go out of my way for an FAR myself but I need to give that some further thought. I do still think it could benefit somewhat from some expansion of sources. PixDeVl yell talk to me! 20:15, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

Of course, the articles may deteriorate over years. Unfortunately the huge number or articles means less attention from active wikipedians. I myself often put grumbling notices on talk pages, like today:-) hoping to attract some extra attention... Wikipedia is not perfect and never will be. If there is something seriously wrong with the article, it is better to point at specific issues. The number of FA and GA is growing and I am sure FA task force has lots on their hands. I say, let them work on their own schedule, unless, I keep repeating, there is something really wrong. But of course, other people may have a different opinion. --Altenmann >talk 21:31, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

I have been doing a bit of research on Laika and from what I have read, the current organization is somewhat misleading. Laika had been in training for years before the Sputnik II program began, being used as a test dog in non-space rocketry. In effect, the article starts, jumps back in time several years, than skips forward without mentioning this time difference. As such, while I don't think the entire FA demotion process is required, this article does have outstanding issues which should be addressed. CitrusHemlock 23:56, 6 October 2024 (UTC)

"Space Suit" photo ?

According to the article, the dog was in a small cockpit compartment where she could stand up, sit, lay down, and eat, as well as being cooled by a fan. There is no mention of a space suit or how any of that would be possible with the "space suit" pictured. Also, this suit pictured could not have been "worn into space by Laika" because the spacecraft was burned up on re-entry.

I suspect this suit was used for some other Soviet Space Dog mission, and perhaps the photographer saw this in a museum and misunderstood the translations? ReekRend (talk) 18:27, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

ReekRend, I share your skepticism, especially after reading the file description which contains a falsehood. You are autoconfirmed and free to remove the photo. If anyone objects, we can discuss it here. Cullen328 (talk) 18:47, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

Here is an article in Smithsonian magazine that says Template:Tpq. Cullen328 (talk) 18:51, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

After a bit of looking I found an image uploaded to Alamy, in which the sign for the exhibit is visible. It can be seen that this was a general suit used for dogs in rocketry experiments, not one used by Laika. Thanks for bringing this up, I'll remove the image. CitrusHemlock 20:07, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

Eurosong 2025 (Ireland Eurovision 2025 national final)

Is this worthy-enough of mention, perhaps under Legacy? Or maybe only if it gets chosen as Ireland's entry? Eurosong: EMMY - Laika Party | Irish Eurovision 2025 (Official Audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnK5TOTmHbU 137.222.148.79 (talk) 17:36, 5 February 2025 (UTC)

I would wait for it to either go somewhat viral (at least in Ireland) or to be selected tonight. Tidjani Saleh (talk) 23:01, 7 February 2025 (UTC)

I added additional context since Laika Party won the National Final for Ireland's Eurosong and provided a source along with it Plsplsdontlookatme (talk) 00:21, 8 February 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 8 February 2025

EMMY represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with her song 'Laika Party' which was written about Laika the Dog. Plsplsdontlookatme (talk) 00:19, 8 February 2025 (UTC)

I wanted this to be included in the Legacy part of Laika's page and if anybody wants to reword it better if it gets approved then I would appreciate it! Plsplsdontlookatme (talk) 00:23, 8 February 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done: A neat bit of trivia, but not quite notable enough to include as part of Laika's legacy. DrOrinScrivello (talk) 16:22, 8 February 2025 (UTC)

Laika's breed mix

In keeping with propaganda and protocols of the day, naturally the Soviet space agency would have been inclined to present Laika as being of Samoyed or Husky mix. While the dominant second breed is clearly a terrier, probably rat terrier as suggested, her size and build suggest the other bloodline was that of at best a medium-size dog; indeed, her specific face and head markings appear to be those of a border collie. Comparison of her photographs to those of modern-day specimens would seem to support this. Nappy1219 (talk) 00:42, 11 February 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 May 2025

Add the following to the "References" section:

"On March 8th, 2013 the Australian rock/reggae band released a song titled "Laika" on their album "Caress Your Soul". The lyrics describe the journey from Laika's point of view while orbiting earth. It conveys the feelings of fear, loneliness, and betrayal that the dog must've been feeling. The song ends with Laika losing consciousness while overheating and asking the Soviet scientists if the mission was worth it"

Source: https://genius.com/Sticky-fingers-laika-lyrics 72.44.202.166 (talk) 17:55, 1 May 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done: Pop-culture trivia like this doesn't belong in the article. Day Creature (talk) 05:51, 2 May 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 May 2025

An additional sentence could be added at the end of the third paragraph under the legacy heading: "The song was performed in the second semi-final in Basel but failed to qualify for the Grand Final." https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2025/0515/1513160-ireland-fails-to-qualify-for-the-eurovision-final/ Gjsjs (talk) 18:55, 19 May 2025 (UTC)

File:Yes check.svg Done Encoded  Talk 💬 23:06, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Too much sentimentality in this article

I think the article wallows too much in the supposed tragedy of this mutt's demise. Compare to the articles about the monkeys Albert I and II, and Gordo, whose deaths were not even met with a shrug. 77.241.129.128 (talk) 21:59, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 10 June 2025

Perhaps the legacy section should include some of the earlier/other language songs inspired by Laika? The one that comes to mind is "Laika" by Spanish band Mecano (a band with a knack for singing about uncomfortable or thought-provoking topics) as part of the B side of their 1988 album "Descanso Dominical" due to the prominence of the band in Spanish-speaking countries. 2603:8080:7D00:1ED6:FCC6:2A2D:2759:531F (talk) 07:31, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

File:X mark.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Day Creature (talk) 20:54, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

Actually there is a full-blown eswiki article, es:Laika (canción de Mecano). I will take a look what can be used from there. --Altenmann >talk 01:36, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

File:Yes check.svg Done . BTW there some notable tidbits in this blog that may be used after RS found. --Altenmann >talk 02:11, 11 June 2025 (UTC)