November 3rd, 1957: Sputnik 2 completed the first orbital spaceflight with a living creature. The formerly stray mongrel would overheat and die in orbit, never expected to survive. 

I traded war bonds for biscuits
Just to coax you home

while you were blanket warm—nothing more
I pretend you had a radio of christmas carols

I buy pouches of paper just to remember
I light them up like a lantern

crimson, brimstone and iron
I pretend to know your favourite songs

I imagine there’s nothing but air between us
while I fill the tires on my bike

I’d take nostalgia over space exploration
I’d ask the scientists what’s the difference 

Yes, I place you in my basket
and I pedal you over the stars

I could taste it when you burned up in the atmosphere