Water fleas taken from a pond near a top university in the UK are being prepared by scientists for their trip to space, where they will be observed by astronauts.
The fleas, or Daphnia, -- being prepared for their transit to the US and their flight into space -- come from a lake close to University of Birmingham and are the first animals from UK waters to travel to space.
The idea is to see how they react to life in space on the International Space Station (ISS).
Water fleas are very interesting creatures that usually reproduce asexually. They are all females and they give birth to pairs of tiny female twins they carry inside them.
"Little is known of Daphnia in zero gravity. Their swimming behaviour in space can teach us how they experience gravity on Earth and their reproduction is a good indicator of stress," said Kay Van Damme, from the University of Birmingham's School of Biosciences.
Damme said: "By understanding the health of water fleas in orbit, we can assess their use as models for human health under the same conditions, and their use for setting up simple ecosystems that can survive long space travels."
This is part of a school's educational science project by the International Space School Education Trust and Mission Discovery, in coordination with the King's College London and University of Birmingham.
The experiment was the idea of a group of students from Rhondda Cynon Taff (Wales) and their project was selected at the end of the Mission Discovery programme at King's College London by a team of scientists led by NASA Space Shuttle Commander Ken Ham.
In preparation for the flight, scientists at Birmingham have to ascertain how much algae the fleas will need to feed on while they are at the ISS and if they can survive in the cold temperatures they will be exposed to on their journey.
Together with scientists at King's College London, they are also preparing the astronaut manifest.
Once they have arrived at the ISS, the astronauts on board will carry out regular observations of the fleas.
"The knowledge and enthusiasm of the Daphnia research team in Birmingham has been pivotal in ensuring that success of this experiment aboard the International Space Station," said Julie Keeble, who leads the Mission Discovery experiments.
Chris Barber, Director the International Space Station Educational Trust, said: "At ISSET we have for many years utilised space exploration to encourage the NASA 'you can do it spirit' in our young people, but it is truly a first for us to extend this to include space travel for other forms of life from the Midlands.
