1.   Dozens of rats that were part of orbital experiments have died, prompting one animal rights group to NASA of abuse.

2.   It will be used for conducting orbital scientific experiments and learning how humans would endure a three-year mission to Mars.

3.   In another orbital experiment, a type of mustard plant failed to thrive in space because water droplets clustered about the roots, blocking absorption of nutrients.

4.   In one orbital experiment, several generations of human kidney cells were cultured and researchers have found that the genes in the space grown cells changed.