Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Russian crafts lands safely on earth – most mice, gerbils and other critters perish aboard perished

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
May 21, 2013
in Animals, Space, Space flight

In April, the Russian space agency launched the Bion-M craft which carried quite a few mice, gerbils, newts, snails and some microfauna into Earth’s orbit. The experiment was designed to test how weightlesness affect them and how these organisms adapt in the process. The craft returned back to Earth on May 19th in an otherwise safe landing, however most of the animals aboard died due to equipment failure while still in orbit.

The Bion-M satellite was reportedly carrying 45 mice, 8 gerbils, 15 newts along with plants and other small animals. Unfortunately most of the animals died shortly after reaching space because of equipment failure or due to the stresses of space, scientists said.

The mission's Bion-M life sciences satellite being prepped for launch. (c) Russian Federal Space Agency
The mission’s Bion-M life sciences satellite being prepped for launch. (c) Russian Federal Space Agency

The animals were confined in five special containers that automatically opened after reaching orbit and closed once it was time to return. To monitor the animals’ well-being, some two dozen measuring devices and other scientific objects were employed that scoped everything from heart rates and blood pressure to radiation levels. These safety precautions weren’t enough though, since a technical failure led the flight control system to turn off power to the entire unit interrupting oxygen and food supply, light and ventilation.

Not ALL the animals died, luckily, and despite all these setbacks Russian officials were quick to hail the mission as a success. To be fair, the Russian experiment marks the first time that animals have been put in space on their own for so long and the data gathered during the animals’ long stay in orbit has provided valuable data that can be used to assess human adaptation to weightlessnes. Indeed, astronauts aboard the International Space Station have had stays in space much longer than this, some having uninterrupted stays well over a year. Animals were used, however, as it was impossible to conduct some of the experiments on the humans who are currently operating the International Space Station (ISS), as this particular mix of animals could have posed a possible health risk to the crew.

The capsule spun 575 kilometres (357 miles) above Earth and landed back effortlessly with the help of a special parachute system in the Orenburg region about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) southeast of Moscow. All 15 geckos Chondrodactylus turneri, snails, and other microorganisms survived the flight.

In all, Bion-M could be truly classed a success, marking an important step forward in Russia’s space agency plans of launching manned flights to Mars. Currently, the agency is targeting 2030 for the lunar outpost that will be used for flights to and fro the Red Planet. Russia’s most recent space fairing attempts haven’t been going too well though. Last year, the $170 million Phobos-Grunt mission destined to land on Mars’ moon Phobos didn’t even leave Earth’s orbit and had to be crashed in the ocean.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. SpaceX spacecraft lands safely on Earth, with creepy cargo
  2. Touchdown: NASA’s InSight probe safely lands on Mars
  3. Congratulations to Felix Baumgartner and the team! Stratosphere jump lands safely
  4. Hearing restored in gerbils by stem cell treatment – might work for the human ear, too
  5. Exonerate the rats – it was gerbils that brought the Black Plague
Tags: microgravityrussian space programweightlessness

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW