News Scoop: May 1, 1998 Vol.3 No.25
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
Critters in Space
Imagine going on a long trip with: 1,514 crickets, 233 fish, 152 rats, 135 snails and 18 mice. Seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia are doing just that!
Columbia took off April 17 on a two-week mission. The mission's goal: to understand better how the brain, muscles and senses work.
The creepy, crawly critters and the astronauts are taking part in 26 experiments. These experiments in space will help researchers on Earth understand brain and muscle development "These experiments are going to answer very important questions," says NASA scientist Louis Ostrach.
The experiments will also show how living creatures can function in very little gravity. Thanks to Columbia's animal astronauts, Nasa may one day be able to build a base on the moon or even send humans to faraway planets!
