Thousands of worms will be sent to the International Space Station in the end of 2018 so that scientists could analyze their rate of spaceflight-induced muscle loss.

The research is being conducted by the UK Space Agency. It is noted that astronauts can lose up to 40% of their muscle after six months in space, Metro reported.

The microscopic worms, C elegans, being used in the experiment share many of the essential biological characteristics as humans and experience biological changes in space, including alterations to muscles and the ability to use energy. Biologists want to find molecules responsible for the problems with mussels during the space flights.