Re: Cats in space

From: Chuck Stewart (zapkitty_at_gmx.co.uk)
Date: 10/30/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 01:07:53 -0500

On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 04:50:14 +0000, Daniel wrote:

> This seems kind of mean. Unless somebody can put the video in context
> for us and assure us the cat is playing acrobatically, and not flailing
> about in sheer, disoriented terror. Because that's sure what it looks
> like.

Yes, the cat was "uncomfortable". Unfortunately, it was for science...

All experiments so far with cats in micro-g have resulted in miserable
cats. The cat has always been perceived by writers and cat fans as the
perfect spacegoing domestic animal, but the same nervous system that gives
them their grace is hardwired for 1 gee of pull. If the cat is subjected
to freefall that nervous systenm assumes it _is_ falling and the "land
on feet" reflex kicks in... and keeps on going as long as the freefall
lasts.

And the cat, unable to lock on to the ground it's "falling" towards,
gets very unhappy indeed.

Unfortunately finding out if the cat can ever get used to it would require
dedicating the cat to a full-up orbital mission... regardless of whether
the cat ever adapts or not. 

-- 
Chuck Stewart
"Anime-style catgirls: Threat? Menace? Or just studying algebra?"

Relevant Pages

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