Russia.. sending 1,500 fruit flies into space
Weather of Arabia - The Russian Academy of Sciences announced that it intends to conduct an experiment by sending 1,500 fruit flies into space to test their ability to adapt to space conditions and zero gravity. This experiment will be carried out by launching Bion-M Laboratory No. 2 to Earth’s orbits in the third quarter of 2024. .
The head of the Academy's Biophysics Laboratory, Irina Ogneva, explained that they conducted a similar experiment in 2014 when they sent fruit flies into space aboard the Foton-M scientific satellite No. 4. These organisms continued in space for 45 days before they were returned to Earth. The new generation of these insects was then sent to the International Space Station.
As a result of these experiments, it was found that fruit flies are able to adapt to the conditions of space and the lack of gravity, and they have succeeded in reproducing. As a result of these discoveries, they aim to study the effect of long space flights on organisms, including the effect of space radiation on them. It is expected that these studies will help In understanding the effects of such conditions on the astronauts who will be sent into space, to the new space station that Russia plans to create.
It is worth noting that "fruit flies" are small, multi-colored insectivores, characterized by beautiful wings, and are known for laying their eggs in fruits, berries, nuts, and other parts of plants. After the egg hatches, the larvae sprout as small white insects devoid of legs, and begin their journey inside the fruit. .
Studying the effects of space on laboratory rats and fruit flies
Previously, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced a project related to launching the “Bion-M” laboratory No. 2 into space in 2024. The main goal of this project is to send experimental mice, fruit flies, and specific types of bacteria and fungi, in addition to cellular tissues. To space. This is with the aim of studying the effects of zero gravity and cosmic rays on these organisms.
The agency indicated that the laboratory will work for approximately a full month in space, as it will be in orbit about 400 kilometers from the surface of the Earth, and this activity will contribute significantly to the study of some of the space equipment that will be used in the new orbital space station “ROS” that Russia is planning to establish.
Also know:
Artificial intelligence helps astronomers estimate the ages of stars
Why is the animal for scientific experiments the mouse?
Sources:
Browse on the official website