Space spider mission not fruitless
Times

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ipace spider mission not fruitless
By TREVA JONES
Times staff writer
Two spiders sent up in the Skylab II project to
■ry out a Raleigh scientist’s research died but not
‘ore encouraging the researcher.
The spiders were able to spin their webs in the
iightless environment of space, proving that they
n adjust to a new situation, according to Peter N.
itt. who bred and raised the spiders.
Witt is chief of research of the N. C. Division of
iental Health Services of the Department of
uman Resources.
The spiders “were able to adapt to something for
hich they were never programmed,” Witt said. “I
link it’s pretty remarkable.
“The question now js the evaluation of the webs.”
!e must study the photographs taken inside Skylab,
litt said. The space-spun webs must be measured
nd compared to earth-spun webs for a real evalua-
on.
He expected the spiders to attempt a web even if
they were “practically paralyzed” by weight-
lessness. But if they never catch food on their webs
and are fed otherwise, “you would assume they
wouldn’t build on.” But they do it all the time,
whether they get a fly or not. he said:
The fact that the spiders performed on a higher
level than expected taking just two days to learn to
cope with their environment could shed some in-
sight into human behavior under stress.
But Dr. Witt said he’s holding out for the photo-
graphs and a scientific analysis of Arabella and
Anita’s webs before he draws any more eon-:
elusions.
Helpless at the beginning, the spiers floated along
the threads they started spinning. After two days,
they started moving straight along their threads,
building “handles” from which to start their webs
along the sides of their cages. They finally built “a
real geometric, orb web,” said the pleased
researcher. Witt has worked with- spiders for 25
years.
The adaptation to an unknown situation “goes
much further than we were expecting.” he said.
Spiders are individualistic and react to different
situations just as individual humans do. he said. A
larger sample is also needed to draw any real con-
clusions. he said.
The space spiders. Arabella and Anita, may have
died because of improper feeding.
Arabella, the last survivor, was found dead in her
cage at Marshall Space Flight Center in Hunts-
ville, Ala., Saturday night and Anita died in the
Skylab space station days earlier.
Witt didn’t know until this morning that Arabella
had died.
Arabella should have gone immediately to
Huntsville and been given food and water when she
landed. Instead, she went to Houston first, “and I
have no idea what happened,” Witt said this mor-
ning“