November 3 in history — On This Day

1957

Laika Orbits Earth Aboard Sputnik 2

On November 3, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2 with a dog named Laika aboard, the first animal to orbit Earth. The mission was never meant to bring her back, and its true outcome was not fully revealed for decades.

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The Story Behind the Photo

Chicago After the Fire: From Burned Blocks to a New Skyline

A photograph taken after the 1871 fire can make Chicago look as though its future had been decided by a wall of flame. A view from around 1905 tells a different story: tall offices, busy transport routes and commercial streets crowded again.

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