• Question: what would happen to a baby that was born in space? what would happen if it was brought back to earth?

    Asked by will to Simon, Julia, Delma, Andrew, Alex on 15 Dec 2015.
    • Photo: Delma Childers

      Delma Childers answered on 15 Dec 2015:

      Part of your question has been tested in space using rats. Pregnant rats were sent to space for a length of time during their pregnancy and brought back to Earth to give birth. Using an interesting test involving water and rolling over, it became clear that the space-incubated pups couldn’t tell up from down at birth! However, within a few days they were perfectly adapted to Earth again. It seems their moms had the worst of it – delivering the pups was more difficult for the moms who had been to space, probably due to muscle loss.

      Otherwise, babies should be pretty normal at birth, even in space. If they stayed in space longer, there could be some issues with development – especially with the long bones in the legs.

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