The spider habitat containing golden orb spider, will launch with STS-134 and will then be transferred from the space shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station.
Credit: iStockPhoto
View of Nephila clavipes (golden orb spider) inside the spider habitat.
Credit: BioServe
MARYLAND: Scientists are preparing to launch a spider habitat into space to observe their activities in microgravity. The study is designed to give astrobiologists a better understanding of how life from Earth adapts to the space environment.
Dubbed the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus Science Insert-05 (CSI-05), this is the second spider investigation on the International Space Station (ISS) and researchers are expecting it to eclipse the short-lived original.
"I think people can relate to everyday insects and they can understand why the experiment is of interest," said Stefanie Countryman, coordinator for CSI-05. "Plus, the visual aspects of this experiment make it very appealing to the general public."
Role of gravity for spiders and flies
Scheduled to launch aboard the space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-134, the spider habitat will transfer from the now late-launching space shuttle Endeavour to the space station. Once aboard, the crew will place the two habitats into the Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGBA).
This equipment will maintain a consistent temperature, humidity and lighting cycle for the spiders and their sustenance supply of fruit flies, while the ISS sends daily images of their progress to the website Bioedonline.org.
The spider pair currently planned for investigation with CSI-05 are both golden orb spiders (Nephila clavipes), which spin a three dimensional, asymmetric web. This is different from the two orb spiders (Larinioides patagiatus and Metepeira) that launched to the space station on STS-126, which were selected specifically for the symmetry of their web formation.
Scientists will be looking to see if and how the arachnids will spin their webs differently in microgravity to understand the behavioral role of gravity for the spiders and their fruit fly companions.
Previous study limited
The previous space spider investigation, CSI-03, was restricted to only eight days, due to the spiders' fruit flies food 'sliming' the observation window, which obscured the view inside the habitat and limited the study.
"It has been shown that orb weaving spiders are able to spin webs in space, although it appears those webs may have some different characteristics [more symmetry] than their Earth-bound counterparts," said NASA.
"What has not been examined is if a young orb weaving spider is flown in microgravity and allowed to gradually mature over a 30 to 45 day period, does its web spinning behaviour or characteristics change over time, particularly when the spider is provided with adequate food and water."
Secondary study of fruit flies
For CSI-05, the fruit flies will have a separate compartment from the spiders. The crew will slowly introduce the flies - approximately every four days - into the two individual spider habitats, which should allow for clear imagery through the viewing window for the full 45-day duration of the investigation.
The fruit flies are not, however, simply nourishment for the spiders, they are actually a secondary study themselves. Scientists plan to look at their mobility over time to see if and how they react to the microgravity environment. They should be able to observe growth, behavioral and flight patterns as the flies develop.
Although scheduled to be launched on April 29, NASA has announced a third delay for Endeavour's launch, until at least May 16, as engineers try to fix an electrical problem.
Giant mutated monster spider
Space is full of gamma and cosmic radiation. what if radiation mutates the spiders into poisonous monster giant spiders? they will kill every astronaut in the ISS. what if the mutation occurs after they are brought back to earth? earth will be invaded my monster spiders.
Giant mutated monster spider
My thoughts exactly..