<a href="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tardigrade.jpg"><img class="alignleft alignnone size-full wp-image-915" style="border: 0; float: left; margin: 8px;" title="tardigrade" src="http://strangeattractor.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/tardigrade.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="271" /></a>The mighty-in-miniature tardigrade has become the first animal to enjoy free flight in open space. Launched in a satellite from Kazakhstan a year ago, two species of tardigrade spent 10 days exposed to the freezing, sun-blasted conditions of open space. 

Sadly most of those who weren't shielded from the Sun's UV light radiation came a cropper, but nearly 3/4 of the rest of the crew were unphased by the experience and some even hatched eggs afterwards.

Let's hope that all of the crew made it back home, or one day Earth may have to face the consequences.

Stay tuned for <em>Planet of the Tardigrades</em>...

Full story at <a href="http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn14690-water-bears-are-first-animal-to-survive-space-vacuum.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&amp;nsref=news8_head_dn14690" target="_blank">New Scientist</a> 