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The Economic Times
The Economic Times
National
Team Global

On STS-51B, NASA flew 24 rats and 2 squirrel monkeys with Spacelab-3; one monkey showed space sickness while the rats returned with muscle loss

In April 1985, the Space Shuttle Challenger carried an unusual crew alongside its seven astronauts. Inside the Spacelab-3 module, sent up to test how living creatures cope with weightlessness, there were 24 rats and two squirrel monkeys. NASA’s official mission record for STS-51B shows that the shuttle lifted off on April 29, 1985, and spent seven days in orbit before landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

A flying lab built just for animals

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