NASA sent 3,301 bees to space in 1984 to study honeycomb construction

In 1984, NASA launched 3,301 honeybees aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery to study their behavior in microgravity. The experiment aimed to observe whether bees could survive and construct honeycomb in a weightless environment. While the bees initially struggled, bumping into walls, they adapted within a few days and began flying normally. By the end of the mission, the bees had built approximately 200 cm of honeycomb. Most bees survived the journey, though eggs laid by the queen failed to hatch after the crew returned to Earth.