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Butterflies in Space

Author(s): Gregory L. Vogt, EdD, Nancy P. Moreno, PhD, and Stefanie Countryman, MBA
Butterflies in Space

Painted Lady larvae spinning a shelter in a thistle leaf.
© Harald Süpfle. CC-BY-SA 3.0

With approximately 20,000 species, butterflies are among the world's most recognizable and popular insects. Students conduct open-ended scientific investigations to learn how gravity and microgravity affect the life cycle of painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies.

Activities in the Butterflies in Space Teacher's Guide are designed for use with multiple grade levels, and as observation for K–2 students.

Developed and conducted in collaboration with BioServe Space Technologies of the University of Colorado, National Space Biomedical Research Institute, and the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Download: Butterflies in Space Teacher's Guide Download: Classroom Slides


Funded by the following grant(s)

National Space Biomedical Research Institute

National Space Biomedical Research Institute

This work was supported by National Space Biomedical Research Institute through NASA cooperative agreement NCC 9-58.


Houston Endowment Inc.

Houston Endowment Inc.

Foundations for the Future: Capitalizing on Technology to Promote Equity, Access and Quality in Elementary Science Education; Opening Pathways for Teacher Instructional Opportunities in Natural Sciences


Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Science Education Leadership Fellows Program
Grant Numbers: 51006084, 51004102, 51000105