The SciNews video Mice aboard the International Space Station is fun to watch for those tired of the same old rocket launch videos.
Behavior of mice aboard the International Space Station
20 female mice were transported to the International Space Station by SpaceX CRS-4 Dragon spacecraft. On NASA’s Rodent Habitat, the mice engaged in a full range of species-typical behaviors. After 7–10 days, younger mice began to exhibit distinctive circling or ‘race-tracking’ behavior that evolved into coordinated group activity. This activity may represent stereotyped motor behavior, rewarding effects of physical exercise, or vestibular sensation produced via self-motion.
It looks like they've figured out how to move around and even get plenty of exercise, but these are just short video samples.
Question: How well do mice manage in space over extended periods of time. Do they exhibit symptoms of serious stress and become dysfunctional, or do they adapt and live fairly healthy lives? This group was single-sex, but if a mixed group were brought to space could they reproduce? Could rogue escaped mice end up inhabiting the ISS and becoming established multi-generational co-occupants, assuming someone made food and water available?
About half-way through they really get moving!
