NASA will provide special care to rats that are going to the International Space Station. Specially designed cages will be sent to space along with rats in August onboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo ship. The stint will help
researchers to study how weightlessness affects on long space flights. Cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, musculoskeletal, nervous, reproductive and sensorimotor will be looked by researchers during the study.

This is not the first time when rodents will be sent into space. The first rodents were sent into space through a V-2 rocket in 1950. A key role is played by rodents to help researchers develop space medicine. Between 1983 and 2011, around 27 batches of rodents have been sent into space.

Currently, astronauts spend a period of six months in a weightless environment aboard the space station. "Mission planners anticipate future missions to Mars will last two years or more and will expose crews to varying levels of gravity and space radiation. We must know in advance how humans will adjust to these conditions", said NASA.

The research will help scientists figure out ways that can have astronauts to remain at their best of health despite spending long time on long-term space travels. Not only this, this will also provide deeper insight into diseases on earth to develop medicines for treatment.

Space flight causes changes in bones and the immune system, a condition caused by osteoporosis on earth. Researchers will conduct the study for about half a year as period of six months accounts for a quarter of their life span.

The National Research Council's report has claimed that space studies on rodents are very important for humans living in space over a period of six months. Well, these rodents are not likely to survive the trip back to earth.