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DISCOVERY SPACE SHUTTLE EXPERIMENTS
In 1997, NASA sent 64 desert beetles to Russia’s Mir space station with tiny wheels tracking their every movement; their movements helped scientists understand how light regulates biological clocks in microgravity- On STS-51B, NASA flew 24 rats and 2 squirrel monkeys with Spacelab-3; one monkey showed space sickness while the rats returned with muscle loss
- In 1994, the space shuttle Discovery held a Wake Shield disk behind it while still attached to its robot arm; the facility produced 5 good semiconductor films
- In 1989, the space shuttle Discovery carried 32 fertilized chicken eggs for 5 days; all 16 early embryos died, while 8 older embryos later hatched without anatomical malformationsIn 1989, the space shuttle Discovery transported thirty-two fertilized chicken eggs into microgravity. Although younger embryos did not end...28 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
- In 2003, NASA launched a 34-inch infrared telescope called Spitzer. For 17 years, it looked through cosmic dust and revealed a hidden universeNASA's Spitzer Space Telescope ended its mission in 2020 after sixteen years. Its infrared observations pierced cosmic dust, revealing hidd...27 Aug, 2026, 04.58 PM IST
- NASA sent Pseudomonas aeruginosa on shuttle Atlantis to space, where it formed denser biofilms with an unusual “column-and-canopy” structureIn groundbreaking space experiments, bacteria grown in synthetic urine were sent aboard the Atlantis space shuttle on two occasions. These ...27 Aug, 2026, 02.50 PM IST
- In 2009, NASA sent four painted lady caterpillars to the ISS; reports said all four completed metamorphosis and emerged as adult butterflies in microgravityIn 2009, four painted lady caterpillars made their way to the International Space Station, embarking on a unique journey. In the absence of...27 Aug, 2026, 02.10 PM IST
- In 1992, Endeavour carried 4 female African clawed frogs into orbit; their eggs were fertilized in microgravity and developed into apparently normal tadpolesIn 1992, four frogs embarked on a journey aboard the space shuttle Endeavour as part of a groundbreaking reproductive experiment. Their egg...27 Aug, 2026, 01.50 PM IST
- In 1992, Endeavour rescued stranded Intelsat VI; three astronauts captured it by hand, and a new booster sent the satellite to geosynchronous orbitIn 1992, NASA unleashed the Endeavour shuttle on an ambitious mission to salvage a damaged satellite. The crew faced daunting challenges du...27 Aug, 2026, 01.40 PM IST
- In 1997, NASA launched Columbia to study undercooled molten metals in microgravity; the STS-83 mission also carried experiments on sintering and fire behaviorThe 1997 mission of space shuttle Columbia was cut short due to problems with fuel cells. However, the crew managed to perform crucial micr...26 Aug, 2026, 07.00 PM IST
- In 1984, NASA sent about 3,300 honeybees into space to test comb-building without gravity; the colony built about 31 square inches of honeycombIn 1984, honeybees traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for a unique student experiment. These bees successfully built honeycomb an...26 Aug, 2026, 04.35 PM IST
- In 2001, NASA sent the science behind toothpaste and salad dressing into space; the research later helped produce three P&G patentsSince 2001, NASA has explored the behavior of colloids aboard the International Space Station, where the lack of gravity permits intricate ...26 Aug, 2026, 02.00 PM IST
- In 1965, an astronaut secretly smuggled corned-beef sandwich into space, creating a '$30 million' problem for NASAIn 1965, astronaut John Young secretly carried an unauthorized corned-beef sandwich aboard NASA’s Gemini 3 mission. The sandwich created pr...26 Aug, 2026, 01.17 PM IST
- In 1997, NASA sent a lightning sensor into orbit aboard TRMM to study storms. 29 years later, the mission’s data still helps scientists understand lightning, rainfall and climateNASA's Lightning Imaging Sensor aboard TRMM studied lightning's role in weather. Earlier missions observed lightning from space, revealing ...25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
- In 2012, NASA observed a fuel droplet continue burning invisibly in space after the visible flame went out, producing carbon monoxide and formaldehydeNASA's 2012 space station experiment revealed an invisible cool flame phenomenon. This unexpected discovery occurred when fuel droplets con...25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
- In 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff; 36 years later, a TV dive team found a shuttle artifact with 8-inch tiles off FloridaDivers found a large, tiled object while filming a documentary series. This unexpected discovery was later identified as space shuttle Chal...25 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
- In 1973, NASA sent about two spiders into space to test web-building without gravity; within days, they adapted and spun complete webs in orbitTwo spiders, Arabella and Anita, flew on Skylab 3 to test web-building in space. Initially disoriented, the spiders eventually adapted to t...24 Aug, 2026, 11.01 PM IST
- In 1985, NASA astronauts built two giant “flyswatters” aboard Space Shuttle Discovery; they used them in an attempt to activate a stranded satelliteIn the remarkable year of 1985, astronauts faced a daunting challenge when they crafted makeshift tools from spare materials aboard their s...23 Aug, 2026, 02.20 PM IST
- In 1998, NASA sent a miniature rose into orbit; microgravity changed the flower’s scent, and perfumers later bottled the otherworldly aromaIn 1998, a miniature rose known as Overnight Scentsation embarked on a journey aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. This extraordinary experimen...11 Aug, 2026, 06.03 PM IST
- In 2006, NASA grew Salmonella in space; the bacteria returned more virulent than genetically identical germs cultivated on EarthIn a striking discovery, researchers found that Salmonella bacteria cultivated in space exhibited a heightened level of aggression, proving...11 Aug, 2026, 05.53 PM IST
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