Esmerelda fly capture - Spiders in Space - STS-134

Esmerelda, a "spidernaut" aboard the International Space Station, consumes fruit flies she has captured in her web. Try to count how many flies she catches and wraps. Watch closely; even in microgravity she strikes quickly!

For more information, resources, and images on the Spiders in Space investigation, visit http://www.BioEdOnline.org

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Spiders in Space
• STS-134
• BioEd Online
• ISS
• NASA
• Orb Weaver Spider

[Turk3YbAstEr]

i'd like to see a spider that doesn't use a web catch prey in microgravity, something like a wolf spider or jumping spider.

[RasAhmose]

lol! it's like She got her grub and then did a "happy dance" "woohoo, i got grubb, i got grubb!"

[niandrei]

since he moves using his web, the lack of gravity shouldn't hinder his movement too much, right?

[stefanhasausername]

6,666th viewer! D:

[Nufuhsus]

That web looks funky...must be a result of the lack of gravity??

[STARZFAN31]

@Turk3YbAstEr A jumping spider would be interesting. He jumps and just keeps on floating.. lol. That would soooo confuse the spider.  Lol.

[GSxxxRGirl]

Wolf spiders are pretty scary and big! There was one in my grandpa's house once, and it was the size of a golf ball. I find house spiders to be alot more freightening then tarantulas. I'll actually hold those! I love this experiment, really interesting![[=

[WhuttaNerd]

WOW she's quick.

[jetslimo]

that's impressive that the fly figured out how to fly and the spider doesn't seem to be effected by lack of gravity.

[anotherlook]

@tzanotto Yep there is a fruit fly experiment as well. Google for "Flies in Space".