The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster remains a promising model organism for research in space biology.

Exploring deep space and creation of bases on other bodies in the Solar System requires increased spaceflight duration and prolonged exposure to different gravity conditions. Most physiological changes under these conditions occur at the cellular level, but the long-term consequences of such effects remain unexplored. The structural and functional characteristics of cells are similar across animal species, but research into issues related to aging and lifespan, development and the reproductive system, the transgenerational inheritance of information about environmental factors is more conveniently conducted in animals with short developmental cycle. To date, the influence of spaceflight factors on these aspects is poorly understood, and the limited data available are often contradictory. Therefore, Drosophila melanogaster remains a promising object for future investigations in space biology.