What are water bears?

Water bears (or Tardigrades) are eight-legged micro-animals. They are among the most resilient animals and can survive extreme conditions—such as exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme pressures (high and low), air deprivation, radiation, dehydration, and starvation._x000D_

Water Bears in Space fact:

_x000D_Hundreds of Water bears and baby squid are headed to space aboard a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station on Thursday, June 3, 2021. It marks SpaceX’s 22nd commercial resupply mission to space. The creatures will be part of experiments, including studying how water bears handle outer space, the possible effects of microgravity on symbiotic relationships, and more.