50 YEARS LATER
"And now, live from Saint Petersbork, our correspondent Peter Moosebridge."
"Thanks Dave. I'm here because today, November the 3rd 2007, marks the fiftyth anniversary of an important event in the history of space exploration." The young moose explained.
"I'm here with Polina Volkov, head of the International Space Program." He went on, introducing a deer in her fifties who was standing next to him.
"Doctor Volkov, can you tell us what happened on this day, fifty years ago?"
"With pleasure. Today we celebrate the first mammal to ever go to space, Laika. Unfortunately, that event also lead to her death." The doe explained, a note of sadness in her voice.
"You knew her, right?"
"Yeah. We grew up in the same orphanage. She was my big sister." Polina replied.
"What do you think is Laika's legacy?"
"She is an example of bravery. She manage to overcome incredible challenges for the people she loved. If it wasn't for her, I probably wouldn't be here right now."
"Thanks for your time, Doctor Volkov." Peter replied.
The camera switched from the two mammals to to a statue in the middle of the square behind them: it represented Laika, staring to the horizon with a proud look in her eyes and wearing her spacesuit.
The statue had been made from melting the charred remains of the Furtnik II, recovered from the ocean after it had re entered in the atmosphere several weeks after the launch.
Many mammals were placing flowers at the feet of the monument: between there were an old arctic fox with amber eyes, a snow leopard using a cane to help him walk, a family of dholes, the older of them barely able to contain his tears, and many others.
The reporter went on to explain how the datas recovered from Laika's trip had helped build a safer spacecraft that would take the next astronauts in space.
In Bunnyburrow some rabbit kits were looking at the screen, listening with curiosity at what the correspondent was saying.
A 15 years old doe, in particular, was enraptured by the story of the brave wolf, who had defied every challenge before her to protect others.
'One day, I'll change the world and make it better, just like her!' The young Judy Hopps thought excitedly.
NOTES:
wait, don't go away yet!
there's even more!
Damn, this story has more post-cradits scenes than a Marvel movie...