In 1967, Biosatellite II irradiated parasitic wasps for 2 days in orbit; females later laid as many eggs as controls, and hatchability remained excellent

A 1967 NASA mission sent parasitic wasps into orbit around Earth. These wasps showed surprising resistance to radiation damage while in space. Ground experiments failed to replicate this protective effect observed in orbit. This old experiment raises questions about spaceflight's impact on living cells. The findings remain relevant for future long-duration space missions.