Laika (Russian for 'barker') was a stray dog that the Russian space scientists put into orbit around earth in 1957. They knowingly sent her to a certain death and the most likely cause of death overheating only hours after launch.
I chose Laika for the 5 of Swords because the experiment which involved sacrificing another sentient being in the name of scientific progress is a very 5 of Swords sort of thing to do.
