BioServe Space Technologies, based out of University of Colorado, sent two Golden Orb spiders, named Gladys and Esmerelda, on the Space Shuttle Endeavor in April to live on the International Space Station. They are testing how spiders spin webs and eating habits in microgravity. Students in elementary and middle schools across the U.S. will participate in this experiment. What are some of the results so far? These spiders have successfully spun webs, they have molted and also doubled in size since their arrival at the International Space Station. As an interesting side note, fruit flies, the spider's food source, are twice as prolific in reproduction as those on earth.
Watch videos and see more details at the Bioedonline website.