Adapting to Zero G

[Johnny Pneumatic]

What do we know about different animals ability to figure out how to move when weightless? Hummingbirds, fish, spiders, flys, geckos, mice etc.

 

[sorgoth]

I can imagine geckos would get around fairly well...that would make a great space-pet...

Don't think they've tried it, though, with gecko's or birds.
I'm pretty sure mice have been brought aboard, but I can't tell you the results.

 

[Johnny Pneumatic]

The ones I know have been taken to space are mice, jellyfish, frogs and I think small fish. I guess those studies are on hold until the shuttle is fixed or replaced.

 

[BobK]

I don't know about hummingbirds, but most other birds require gravity to swallow.

 

[Johnny Pneumatic]

I don't know about hummingbirds, but most other birds require gravity to swallow.

So their esophagus doesn't have muscles to push the food to the stomach?

 

[uruk]

Check out some of the experiments done on skylab back in the 70's. and some stuff they did early on with the space shuttle.

They took up spiders and mice and other compact vermin.
Spiders faired very well in 0g. Their webs were about the same.
I don't know about the mice or other critters. Check out NASA.

 

[Johnny Pneumatic]

check this out http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/9-12/features/20jan_marsmice.html