Amazon Quiz: On which space shuttle in 1991, was this species launched into space by NASA?
Discovery
Atlantis
Columbia
Endeavour
Answer: Columbia
In 1991, NASA conducted its first Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS-1) mission by launching jellyfish into space in order to study “the Effects of Microgravity-Induced Weightlessness on Aurelia Ephyra Differentiation and Statolith Synthesis.”
This space experiment was conducted by launching a Columbia space shuttle into space with 2,478 jellyfish polyps inside bags and containers that were filled with fake seawater. Astronauts then added chemicals to those bags that would allow the polyps to swim and eventually reproduce. As the mission went on, the polyps grew. Towards the end of it, about 60,000 jellyfish were in space.
The experiment was conducted in order to study the effect of gravity on the organisms and how they respond after returning to Earth.
The mission was initially set to begin on May 22, 1991, but was delayed due to a leaking liquid hydrogen transducer in the shuttle’s system. The transducer, which posed a threat of causing engine failure, was then replaced.
After several system checks, the Columbia space shuttle took off on 5 June 1991, at 9:24:51 am EDT.
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