Seeker Highlights Rodent Research Reference Mission
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly handling the Rodent Research Facility onboard the International Space Station.
Media Credit: NASA
In December, 40 mice of two different age groups were sent to the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Lab as part of the first Rodent Research Reference Mission, highlighted in a recent article from popular science content publisher Seeker.
For the mission, investigators from several institutions will evaluate biological specimens from the spaceflight and ground-control mice to advance research on diseases and aging effects involving bone and muscle.
In the Seeker article, Dr. Michael Roberts, ISS National Lab deputy chief scientist, explains why rodents in space are good models for studying human diseases back on Earth. You can also learn more about the Rodent Research Reference Mission in this NASA article.