Was Laika animal cruelty?

Was the mission of Laika, the Soviet space dog, an example of animal cruelty? Many argue that sending Laika into orbit was unethical, considering the harsh conditions she faced and the lack of knowledge about the effects of spaceflight on animals at that time. Her fate remains a controversial topic, with some defending it as a necessary step in the advancement of space exploration and others condemning it as an unjustifiable act of cruelty towards an innocent creature. What do you think? Was Laika's mission an unacceptable example of animal cruelty, or was it a necessary sacrifice in the pursuit of scientific knowledge?