Tragedy strikes for the Russian space program.

[Deleted]

Everyone, take a moment in your day to grieve for the loss of life.

Five gecko lizards sent into orbit on a Russian space satellite as part of a sex experiment have all died, the Russian space agency says.

The Foton-M4 satellite returned to Earth on Monday, the Roscosmos agency said in a statement (in Russian).

Experts say the geckos may have frozen to death after the heating system broke down, Russian news agencies report.

They were sent into space as part of a study into the effect of weightlessness on their sex lives and development.

"We can say with confidence that they died at least a week before the landing because their bodies were partly mummified," an official from Russia's Institute of Medical and Biological Problems told Itar-Tass news agency.

The Russian space agency has not yet outlined the cause of death.

But Interfax news agency, quoting an expert working on the mission, says preliminary data shows the geckos may have died after a malfunction with the satellite's heating system.

Drosophila fruit flies that were also travelling on the satellite, however, survived and had reproduced, Roscosmos said.

Mushrooms and plant seeds were also being monitored as part of the experiment, while a special vacuum furnace was used to examine the melting and solidification of metal alloys in low-gravity conditions.

The six-tonne satellite was launched on 19 July and was meant to carry out experiments over a two-month period. However, it returned after just 44 days in orbit.

Soon after its launch, Roscosmos briefly lost contact with the satellite when the Foton-M4's engine stopped responding to ground control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29028326

Truly Russia, i grieve with you today; May gecko kind remember such valiant actions.

[Rukentuts]

This sexual experimentation wasn't very hot.

[Dispraise]

Five gecko lizards sent into orbit on a Russian space satellite as part of a sex experiment have all died

I think they were doing it wrong.

[Deleted]

Really? Again? It seems like most of their rockets either blow up, satellites malfunction and fall back to Earth and living creatures they send up die a horrible death.

[CheeseSandwich]

Thanks heavens the fruit flies survived.

[Maxilian]

Well at least it was not a complete fail, they got to check the fruit flies, the plants seeds and the metal (not the 2 months they wanted but is something)

[Notchris]

Gecko sex experiments in space! For science!

[Annoying]

John Oliver is gonna be pissed.

[Deleted]

It was Lizard Squad. RIP.

[Deleted]

I can't say I care, sorry.

Get a load of this bad ass!

A Russian team of astronauts died, she doesn't care.

Pffff.

[Deleted]

I'm sure they're easily replaceable.

Someone hasn't woken up on the right side of the bed...

[Xanjori]

I might be a tad sad if it was a furry creature.

Might.

Not sure who gives off a colder shoulder right now, you or the Geckos!

[Rukentuts]

Not sure who gives off a colder shoulder right now, you or the Geckos!

That was cold-blooded, even for reptiles.

[Nihilan]

Russia sends lizards into space.
Solar radiation leaks into the insufficiently shielded orbiter.
Lizards rapidly mutate.
Earth is conquered by gigantic hyper-intelligent Godzilla monsters.
Thanks Russia.
You dicks.

[Deleted]

Looks like they've released an image of the flight commander.

R.I.P Comrade.

[SpcGuts]

John Oliver is gonna be pissed.

We all failed John. More importantly, we all failed those geckos.