By Jonathan O'Callaghan They were intended to be among the first animals to join the 350-mile-high club, but now a group of geckos sent into space to reproduce may be at risk. The five lizards - four male and one female - launched on a research satellite on 19 July to study the effects of weightlessness on their sex lives. But Russian space officials have now revealed that the Foton-M4 satellite is not responding to commands, and there are fears the mission may be lost. A satellite containing five geckos is feared out of control. The five lizards are flying in the Gecko-F4 experiment aboard the satellite (shown). They are being observed to see how their bodies and sexual behaviour are affected by microgravity. Their habitat, monitored by video camera, has enough food for two months
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A biological experiment launched from Kazakhstan last week is feared lost
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Ground controllers are unable to communicate with the Foton-M4 satellite
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On board it has five geckos intended to reproduce and test the effects of microgravity on reproduction
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But while the animals are alive, the satellite cannot be controlled
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This means that the planned landing in two months might not be possible
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