Title: NASA Astronaut Successfully Grows and Harvests Tomato in Space
By Nicholas Finch, News.com.au
Published Dec. 9, 2023, 4:15 a.m. ET
NASA astronaut and Expedition 68 Flight Engineer Frank Rubio made history by growing and harvesting one of the first tomatoes ever grown in space in March of this year.
Rubio, a US Army Lieutenant Colonel, achieved this feat during his time in low orbit around the Earth for 371 days, making it the longest single spaceflight by an American. However, his accomplishment was overshadowed by the mysterious disappearance of the space-grown tomato.
Despite efforts to find the missing tomato, it was nowhere to be found, leading to speculation that Rubio had eaten it. However, during a Wednesday stream celebrating the 25th anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS), it was revealed that the tomato had been found.
Fellow astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli exonerated Rubio, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the missing tomato. The state of the tomato was not confirmed, but Rubio expressed relief that he had been vindicated.
The ISS, which collaborates with space agencies from the US, Japan, Europe, Russia, and Canada, provides a unique environment for scientific research and experiments, including the growth of food in space. Rubio’s successful cultivation and harvest of a tomato in space mark a significant milestone in the study of food production in microgravity.
Rubio’s perseverance in searching for the missing tomato serves as a testament to the challenges and unpredictability of conducting experiments and maintaining objects in the microgravity environment of the ISS. Despite the initial setback, Rubio’s achievement will contribute to our understanding of sustainable food production in space and the possibilities of long-duration space travel.
As space exploration continues to advance, Rubio’s experience serves as a reminder of the determination and resilience required to overcome obstacles in the pursuit of scientific discovery beyond Earth.