Back in the 1950s, the Soviets were eager to follow their Sputnik success with an even bigger milestone: they would send something living to outer space. Amy Nelson says that the pups were easy to rebrand as space pioneers. And: Scientists have reason to believe that Mars has a lot in common with Earth. Joel Levine says the search for life outside of Earth is the driving force of space exploration.

Later in the show: Increasingly, tech that was for extraterrestrials is making its way into the hands of everyday people. David Bowles says this is a good thing, and it's only up from here. Plus: Scientists and engineers aren’t the only ones who belong in outer space. Sterling Hundley says that artists help us get to clearer answers sooner.