After month in space, only few mice survive Mars research mission
Russian scientists hail experiment they hope will pave way for a manned flight to Red Planet
A month-long mission into space in a Russian capsule had a tragic outcome for two dozen or more mice and eight gerbils that perished during an attempt to establish how well organisms withstand extended flights.
Most of the 45 mice sent into orbit - along with the gerbils and 15 newts - died on the mission, which nevertheless returned to earth on Sunday with data that scientists hope will pave the way for a manned flight to Mars.
The animals on board the Bion-M craft died because of equipment failure or due to the stresses of space, scientists said. The craft landed softly early on Sunday, with the help of a special parachute system in the Orenburg region about 1,200 kilometres southeast of Moscow.
It was also carrying snails, some plants and microflora.
"This is the first time that animals have been put in space on their own for so long," Vladimir Sychov of the Russian Academy of Sciences said when the peculiar crew returned to earth.
This is the first time that animals have been put in space on their own for so long ... less than half of the mice made it - but that was to be expected
But at the end of the experiment, "less than half of the mice made it - but that was to be expected", Sychov told Russian news agencies. "Unfortunately, because of equipment failure, we lost all the gerbils."