On a 12-day Russian biosatellite flight, seven silkworm varieties spun silk, built cocoons, mated and laid eggs; some developmental stages occurred 2-3 days faster than ground controls

Chinese silkworms have successfully navigated their life cycle during an impressive twelve-day mission in space. Notably, their eggs hatched two to three days quicker in orbit, and dormant eggs revealed an increased hatching success in microgravity. Yet, certain breeds showed shortened lifespans and genetic variations, indicating that the effects of space travel can vary significantly between silkworm breeds.