​5 incredible animals found on Earth that can survive the harsh conditions of space

Human beings have been travelling to space in the wake of numerous research missions, be it Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon, or Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently went aboard the ISS.

Space travel pushes the limits of human knowledge and capability, but there are numerous living organisms that have also been sent to higher up in order to better understand how life endures and adapts in space.

These resilient creatures have been sent on experimental missions that help scientists better understand how organisms withstand radiation, microgravity, and other hazards, advancing the degrees of space exploration and biological science.


Here are 5 living organisms that can survive in space

In 1972, Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke, Jr. carried brine shrimp eggs as part of NASA’s Biostack experiments. These experiments aimed to test the effects of cosmic rays on bacteria spores, seeds, and brine shrimp eggs, helping scientists understand how space radiation might impact living things, including humans. The exposed shrimp eggs revealed developmental impacts from high-energy cosmic particles, shedding light on potential radiation hazards for astronauts during long missions.

Tardigrades, often called water bears, are microscopic animals famous for surviving extreme conditions. The European Space Agency sent tardigrades into orbit in 2007 aboard the FOTON-M3 mission, exposing them to vacuum and intense solar radiation. Surprisingly, many revived after returning to Earth. These creatures survive through cryptobiosis, a suspended animation state allowing them to survive in space’s harsh environment, making them champions of space survival and biological resilience.

Cockroaches, known for their toughness, can withstand radiation levels lethal to humans. During a space mission aboard a FOTON-M bio-satellite, a cockroach named Nadezhda (“Hope”) survived and even produced offspring after the flight. This achievement demonstrated cockroaches’ extraordinary resilience and adaptability to space conditions, also showing their potential role in biological research on space survival.

Entomopathogenic nematodes, also known as microscopic roundworms used as natural biopesticides, were tested aboard the International Space Station. Researchers examined their ability to move through soil, locate, and kill pests. The nematodes’ performance in space matched Earth-based results, showing that their biological functions and symbiotic relationships remain stable in microgravity.

Chinese scientists successfully maintained a closed aquatic ecosystem in space on the Shenzhou-18 mission. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, four zebrafish completed their entire life cycle, growth, development, and reproduction in over 43 days aboard the space station. This milestone represented successful ecological experiments in space, paving the way forward for understanding aquatic ecosystems’ sustainability and supporting future long-term human space habitation.