Ants in Space Update
The Cygnus spacecraft is now traveling to rendezvous with the ISS on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Photo Credit: NASA
The ant-stronauts are on their way to the International Space Station! Orbital Sciences Corporation successfully launched its robotic spacecraft from the Mid-Atlantic Launch Range on Thursday, January 9, 2014. The Antares rocket lifted off at 1:07 p.m. ET, carrying the Cygnus spacecraft and its nearly 3,000 pounds of equipment and supplies, including the ants in their specialized habitats.
Once in orbit, the spacecraft deployed its solar panels and began coasting toward its rendezvous with the Space Station. Final docking maneuvers are scheduled for Sunday, January 12, and the Ants in Space investigation is tentatively planned to begin at 6 a.m. ET on Monday, January 13, 2014.
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Ants in Space
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Ants are able to coordinate their activities, even though no single ant (not even the queen) directs their behavior. How do they do it? Build your own ant habitat and compare the search behaviors of ants on Earth to those living on the ISS.