In 1967, NASA flew flour beetle pupae on Biosatellite II for 45 hours; radiation and weightlessness raised wing abnormalities in flight from 29.9% to 44.8%

During the 1967 Biosatellite II mission, flour beetles displayed notable wing deformities, underscoring how weightlessness amplified the adverse effects of radiation on living organisms. This early research in space biology played a pivotal role in understanding how microgravity and radiation interact. Today, insects are being considered viable food sources for future space explorations, reinforcing the importance of studying the biological consequences of spaceflight.