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Why Study Animals in Space?

When humans travel in space the extreme environment causes loss of bone and muscle, immune system dysregulation, cardiovascular system changes and other health hazards.

By sending model organisms, such as fruit flies, nematode worms, and rodents into space, scientists can unravel the complex molecular changes that are triggered by stressors like microgravity, oxidative stress and space radiation. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is the first step to developing health countermeasures to protect astronaut health for future missions.

Animal Biology Missions
Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are a commonly used model organism for space research. Their small size and short life span allows scientists to study large sample sizes over many generations in space.