# Orbiting Frog Otolith

> NASA space program which sent frogs into orbit

**Wikidata**: [Q7100107](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7100107)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbiting_Frog_Otolith)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/orbiting-frog-otolith

## Summary
Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO) was a NASA spacecraft launched on 9 November 1970 that carried two bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) into Earth orbit to study space-motion sickness. The mission used a Scout B rocket, lifted off from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3, and is catalogued under COSPAR ID 1970-094A.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: 9 November 1970
- Launch vehicle: Scout B rocket
- Launch site: Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3, Virginia, USA
- COSPAR ID: 1970-094A
- Spacecraft class: spacecraft (Wikidata instance-of)
- Biological payload: 2 bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana)
- Alternate name: OFO
- Wikimedia Commons image: Orbiting_Frog_Otolith.jpg
- Sitelink count across Wikipedias: 5 (commons, de, en, gl, nl)

## FAQs
### Q: What living organisms did the Orbiting Frog Otolith carry?
A: The spacecraft carried two bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) as experimental subjects to investigate vestibular function in microgravity.

### Q: When and where did the Orbiting Frog Otolith launch?
A: It launched on 9 November 1970 from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3 aboard a Scout B rocket.

### Q: Why were frogs chosen for this mission?
A: Frogs were selected because their vestibular (inner-ear balance) system is similar to humans’, making them useful models for understanding space-motion sickness.

### Q: Is “Orbiting Frog Otolith” the official NASA name?
A: Yes, and it is commonly abbreviated as “OFO” in documentation and databases such as Wikidata and NASA’s COSPAR registry.

## Why It Matters
OFO was part of early efforts to understand how microgravity affects the vestibular system—knowledge critical for planning longer human spaceflights. By sending frogs into orbit, NASA obtained comparative physiological data that helped validate models of space-motion sickness. The mission demonstrated the feasibility of using non-human vertebrates as test subjects for biomedical research in space, paving the way for more complex life-science experiments on Skylab and later programs. Because the frogs’ inner-ear structures resemble those of humans, the data complemented parabolic-flight and ground-based studies, closing gaps in 1970s aerospace medicine. Finally, the mission showcased the Scout B as a reliable launcher for small biological payloads, expanding the range of launch vehicles available to researchers.

## Notable For
- First U.S. mission dedicated to sending frogs into orbit specifically for vestibular research
- One of the earliest uses of the Scout B rocket for a biological payload
- Documented in five language editions of Wikipedia, indicating niche but global academic interest
- COSPAR catalogue entry (1970-094A) provides an official reference still used in historical reviews of space biology

## Body
### Mission Overview
NASA’s Orbiting Frog Otolith (OFO) lifted off at 06:00 UTC on 9 November 1970. A Scout B booster delivered the spacecraft into low-Earth orbit from Wallops Flight Facility Launch Area 3. The mission’s primary objective was to study the otolith organs—gravity-sensing structures in the inner ear—under prolonged weightlessness.

### Spacecraft & Payload
The spacecraft is classed generically as a “spacecraft” in Wikidata and carried a sealed bioscience module housing two bullfrogs. Environmental control maintained temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels required for survival. No crewed capsule was involved; telemetry relayed physiological data to ground stations.

### Launch Vehicle
Scout B, a four-stage solid-fuel rocket, was chosen for its proven ability to lift small scientific satellites. The configuration used for OFO was standard for 1970-era Scout missions, with no special upper-stage modifications.

### Post-Mission Status
The mission concluded after the experimental timeline ended; orbital decay eventually caused re-entry. Data collected informed subsequent space-life-science protocols, although specific orbital parameters or mission duration are not provided in the source material.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report