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Times of India · DistrictNews · 2026-08-26

In 1984, NASA sent 3,301 bees to space to see how they built honeycomb

Thousands of honeybees traveled into space aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984. These bees were sent to microgravity to see if they could survive and build their famous honeycomb. Initially, some bees crashed into walls, but they adapted within days. By the mission's end, the bees flew normally and built about 200 cm of honeycomb. Most bees survived, and the queen laid eggs which did not hatch after returning. Thousands of honeybees travelled into space aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984 for an experiment that sounds unusual even today. The space agency sent 3,301 bees into microgravity to see whether they could survive and, more importantly, build their famous honeycomb without the pull of gravity. In 1984, NASA sent 3,301 bees to space to see how they built honeycomb

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