Russian space lizards return to Earth A Russian capsule carrying mice and lizards has returned to Earth after spending a month in space. Scientists say the experiment is intended to test the effects of weightlessness and other factors of space flight on cell structure. Russian state television showed the capsule and some of its inhabitants after it landed safely in a planted field near Orenburg on Sunday. The report said not all of the animals survived the flight. Vladimir Sychov, deputy director of the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, said it was the first time that animals had spent so much time in space on their own. The mice and lizards are to be flown back to Moscow to undergo a series of tests at the institute.