Russia has regained control of a satellite carrying five randy geckos in a space-based sexual reproduction experiment

IT was always supposed to be a wild ride, but when Russia lost contact with a satellite containing a pod of randy geckos — things threatened to heat up a little too much.

IT was always supposed to be a wild ride, but when Russia lost contact with a satellite containing a pack of randy geckos — things threatened to heat up a little too much.

Russia lost contact with the science experiment module late last week. One of the “packages” it was carrying contained several geckos — and a webcam.

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Eager scientists had wanted to know if the randy little critters would be able to have sex and reproduce while living in a zero-gravity “ecosystem” with plants and insects.

The Russian Foton-M4 research satellite was launched last Saturday. It initially failed to respond to commands designed to activate its engines for a boost to a higher — safer — orbit.

Even as mission control worked frantically to re-establish control of the satellite, the steamy footage continued to be beamed back to Earth.

Russian space administration authorities have this morning said they have re-established contact with the satellite. The experiments - and the geckos - have a new lease on life.

The five Mauritius ornate day geckos were sent aloft with a supply of food and water intended to keep them alive for several months.

Now that a fiery death from the satellite re-entering Earth’s atmosphere has been avoided, the 12cm-long green beasts will be able to enjoy the rest of their flight performing before the camera.

If the geckos produce any eggs, it is expected to take up to 40 days before any hatchlings emerge.

The happy families are expected to parachute back to Earth in September.

A previous mission in 2007 successfully returned its payload of lizards, gerbils, bugs and spiders unharmed. A repeat of the mission exploded on the launch pad last year.