NASA’s Space Tomatoes: A Long-Lost Journey
NASA recently recovered two long-lost space tomatoes that astronaut Frank Rubio had mistakenly misplaced in the International Space Station. Despite being dehydrated and slightly discolored, the tomatoes showed no signs of spoilage or microbial growth. The tomatoes were part of NASA’s VEG-05 project, which studies crop growth, food safety, and flavor in space. Although the tomatoes won’t be returning to Earth, plant research continues on the space station to explore genetic adaptations in space-grown plants and their transferability to future generations. Additionally, space gardening offers psychological benefits for astronauts, promoting quality of life and morale.