NASA's History Program Office has released the fourth volume of the English translation of Russian space pioneer Boris Chertok's highly acclaimed memoirs, Rockets and People: The Moon Race.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday that the country must preserve its pre-eminence in space.

What country am I? Pop.: 22.3 million Gov't: republic History: After Polish, Hungarian and Ottoman domination, I became an independent monarchy in 1878. Soviet occupation after World War II resulted in a Communist regime, led from 1965 by Nicolae Ceausescu.

Just a month after the Soviet Union stunned the world by putting the first artificial satellite into orbit, it boasted a new victory - a bigger satellite carrying a dog called Laika. The mission, 50 years ago today, ended sadly for Laika but helped pave the way for human flight.

By Vladimir Isachenkov Associated Press MOSCOW -- Just a month after the Soviet Union stunned the world by putting the first artificial satellite into orbit, it boasted a new victory -- a much bigger satellite carrying a mongrel dog called Laika.