Space Shuttle Endeavour is waiting for the final lunch. This final mission of Endeavour will probably start only on May 16. The last two launches were canceled; the reason of the delays was some technical problems. One of the main assignments of this final mission will prepare an interesting space research. I want to write now about this futuristic space story.
If we check the list of STS-134 crew members, we can find two “spidernauts”. This situation can be really easy integrated in a sci-fi screenplay, the spiders will escape and the contact with International Space Station (ISS) will suddenly interrupt… But, the truth is, there are already some spiders on ISS and the researchers are investigating the arachnid habits in microgravity environment.
In this special condition, the geometry of different spider webs will be studied. The new “spidernauts” (Nephila clavipes) spin asymmetric three dimensional webs and the most important question is how these spiders will construct a 3D web in low gravity. The other two spiders (Larinioides patagiatus and Metepeira) were launched to the ISS in 2008 and these spiders spin two dimensional webs on Earth. The researcher will compare the different webs of various spiders in low gravity. I think, we can learn lot of new facts about the webs of spiders during the mission!
The fruit flies will be the nourishment of the spiders, but the astronauts on ISS will also study the mobility and flight patterns of the fruit flies during the research program. You can follow this program on bioedonline.org and you can find some interesting teaching materials about this experience!
Source: nasa.gov
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