In 2012, a jumping spider named Nefertiti spent 100 days aboard the International Space Station, becoming the first arachnid to survive a spaceflight and return to Earth.
Nefertiti successfully hunted prey in microgravity
Astronauts observed Nefertiti catching fruit flies despite the disorienting effects of weightlessness, proving that jumping spiders can adapt their hunting techniques to space conditions.
The spider’s return to Earth ended in unexpected tragedy
After surviving the journey back from orbit, Nefertiti was placed on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where she died just four days later.
Why were spiders chosen for space experiments?
Scientists selected jumping spiders for their exceptional vision and active hunting behavior, which made them ideal candidates to study how predators adapt to microgravity environments.
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What happened to the other spider, Cleopatra?
Cleopatra, a zebra jumping spider sent alongside Nefertiti, died upon returning to Earth and did not survive the full mission cycle.
Nefertiti’s mission set a record for the longest time spent in space by a spider, a record that still stands as of 2026.
In 2012, a jumping spider named Nefertiti spent 100 days aboard the International Space Station, becoming the first arachnid to survive a spaceflight and return to Earth.
Nefertiti successfully hunted prey in microgravity
Astronauts observed Nefertiti catching fruit flies despite the disorienting effects of weightlessness, proving that jumping spiders can adapt their hunting techniques to space conditions.
The spider’s return to Earth ended in unexpected tragedy
After surviving the journey back from orbit, Nefertiti was placed on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where she died just four days later.
Last time similar experiments occurred, results were inconclusive
Earlier spider spaceflights in the 1970s failed to yield clear data on web-building behavior due to high mortality rates during launch and reentry.
Why were spiders chosen for space experiments?
Scientists selected jumping spiders for their exceptional vision and active hunting behavior, which made them ideal candidates to study how predators adapt to microgravity environments.
What happened to the other spider, Cleopatra?
Cleopatra, a zebra jumping spider sent alongside Nefertiti, died upon returning to Earth and did not survive the full mission cycle.
Nefertiti’s mission set a record for the longest time spent in space by a spider, a record that still stands as of 2026.
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