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Category Archives: Space Station

Astronauts Aboard ISS Find Lost Tomato Missing for 8 Months – PEOPLE

Posted: December 12, 2023 at 12:46 am

The mystery of the lost space tomato has been solved.

Astronauts aboard theInternational Space Station(ISS) revealed in alivestreamWednesday celebrating the space stations 25th anniversary that they finally found the missing fruit after initially blaming fellow astronautFrank Rubiofor its disappearance.

NASA's Associate Administrator Bob Cabana asked the crew near the end of the broadcast if they hid anything or lost anything that they were still looking for, to which several of the astronauts laughed.

"Well, we might have found something that someone had been looking for quite a while, NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli said with a smile on her face.

Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo

She continued, "Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home, has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato. But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato."

According to Space.com, the mystery of the lost tomato had been a months-long inside joke between astronauts on the ISS, which started after Rubio harvested Red Robin dwarf tomatoes for the space stations Veg-05 experiment.

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Following thetomato harvest in March, each astronaut received samples of the tomato harvest in a Ziploc bag. However, before Rubio could eat his portion, it reportedly floated away, per the outlet. The other ISS astronauts humorously didnt believe it.

The NASA astronaut reportedly first discussed the missing tomato during a livestream call on NASA Television, where he noted that he spent so many hours looking for that thing, but ultimately came up empty-handed.

"I'm sure the desiccated tomato will show up at some point and vindicate me, years in the future, Rubio said, per Space.com.

He again mentioned the lost tomato in a news conference held after returning to earth after more than a year in space. He said, per the outlet, that he had spent "1820 hours of my own time looking for the missing tomato, but it was never discovered.

"The reality of the problem, you know the humidity up there is like 17%. It's probably desiccated to the point where you couldn't tell what it was, and somebody just threw away the bag," Rubio said with a laugh. "Hopefully somebody will find it someday: a little, shriveled thing."

During the ISS crews 25th anniversary stream, they noted that they all have on multiple occasions lost items in the space station.

Luckily most of them we found again near an air vent, maybe a couple minutes, maybe a couple hours later. But it is certainly one of the challenges that you really get to learn to cope with until you get here, one of the astronauts said.

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NASA astronaut will celebrate Hanukkah in space with felt menorah – Space.com

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A NASA astronaut will "light" felt candles to celebrate Hanukkah in space.

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli plans to conduct the traditional lighting of the menorah in felt, given that the agency and International Space Station (ISS) wisely have restrictions against using fire aboard a spacecraft. The lighting will be done during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival which begins at sundown local time on Thursday (Dec. 7).

"My husband and little girls helped make a felt menorah, with lights for each night, that I can pin on to celebrate with them. So I'm excited to do that," Moghbeli said during a press conference in July, adding that her family celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.

Related: Astronauts celebrate Thanksgiving in space! Here's what they'll eat and what they're thankful for (video)

Astronauts have found creative ways to celebrate holidays aboard the ISS over the years. Back in 2019 during Hanukkah, for example, Jewish astronaut Jessica Meirposted a photo of her feet in festive blue, neon green and purple socks, adorned with menorahs and representations of the Star of David.

Hanukkah is the Jewish festival that starts on the 25th of Kislev, a month on the Hebrew calendar that follows the cycles of the new moon. In the Gregorian calendar that much of the world uses, Hanukkah tends to fall in November or December, depending on the year.

"Hanukkah reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival," Britannica writes of the festival.

The Second Temple, a central feature of Judaism, replaced an earlier temple destroyed by the Babylonians. The newer temple stood between either 516 BCE or 350 BCE (depending on the source) and 70 CE, when it was destroyed by the Romans, according to Harvard University. While the temple was never reconstructed, the western wall persists and remains a sacred site in Judaism.

In 2023, antisemitic incidents have been rising throughout the world following an intensification of the Israel-Hamas war; you can learn more about the war and its history at the Poynter Institute. The White House released a national strategy to combat antisemitism in May, and the United Nations has guidelines for educators and online environments.

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Four-time Space Veteran Jeff Williams to Retire from NASA – El Paso Inc.

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Four-time Space Veteran Jeff Williams to Retire from NASA - El Paso Inc.

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NASA astronauts finally find tomato that was lost in space for months – New York Post

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NASA astronauts finally find tomato that was lost in space for months  New York Post

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A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal – WION

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A tomato lost for 8 months on space station has finally been found, and it is a big deal  WION

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ISS astronauts find tomato that was lost in space for 8 months – FreshPlaza.com

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Watch ISS astronaut speak with Nobel Prize winners on Dec. 11 – Yahoo News

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Some of this year's Nobel Prize winners will make a call to space on Monday (Dec. 11), and you can watch online for free.

Two European Space Agency (ESA) astronauts one of them here on Earth and the other aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will speak with recent Nobel laureates during the event. You can watch live here at Space.com, via ESA Web Two, at 08:45 a.m. EST (1345 GMT) on Monday.

The conversation will include ISS Expedition 70 commander Andreas Mogensen, astronaut Marcus Wandt (who is scheduled to launch to the ISS early next year on the private Ax-3 mission), and 2023 Nobel laureates Ferenc KrauszandMoungi Bawendi.

Related: Astronauts celebrate Thanksgiving in space! Here's what they'll eat and what they're thankful for (video)

"This will be a chance for two scientists, who have received their Nobel Prize medals the day before for the discoveries of attoseconds and quantum dots, to have a conversation with astronauts," the Nobel Prize Museum wrote of the event.

"Join us to hear their perspectives on the importance of basic science, how we are constantly expanding our knowledge about the universe, and the challenges of conducting experiments in space."

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Bawendi won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his applications of quantum dots, which are semiconductor nanocrystals. Krausz won the Nobel Prize in Physics with work on attosecond-scale pulses of light that stimulate charged particles such as electrons in matter. (An attosecond is just 0.000000000000000001 of a second.)

The event will be livestreamed from the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, although not all guests of honor will be onsite. Mogensen is on the ISS, while Wandt will phone in from his training at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

This story was updated at 7:55 p.m. EDT Dec. 12 after new livestream timing from ESA.

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Mysterious "red sprite" captured by space station astronaut – Earth.com

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Red sprites, also known as red fairies are a type of transient luminous event (TLE), primarily appearing as red flashes of light occurring above thunderstorms. They are part of a larger family of upper-atmospheric phenomena linked to thunderstorm activity, alongside blue jets and elves.

Discovered only in the late 20th century, red sprites have since captivated scientists and sky-watchers alike with their elusive and spectacular nature.

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen captured this image of a red fairy hovering above a thundercloud as a part of the Thor-Davis experiment at Danish Technical University. Red sprites, as they are called in scientific circles, are rare Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) that form above thunderclouds. They typically emerge between 40 to 80 kilometers above Earth.

As demonstrated in the Davis camera video, thunder precedes the appearance of red fairies higher in the sky. The Davis cameras uniqueness lies in its operation. It functions more like our eyes retinas, sensitive to light changes, allowing it to capture up to the equivalent of 100,000 frames per second, unlike a standard camera.

The existence of red sprites eluded scientific documentation until 1989, largely due to their brief duration and high altitude.

Pilots had reported sightings of unusual aerial phenomena for years. However, these accounts remained anecdotal until researchers, using high-speed cameras, captured the first images of red sprites. This breakthrough paved the way for a new field of atmospheric research.

Red sprites manifest as reddish-orange flashes, often accompanied by tendrils extending both upward and downward. They typically occur in clusters and can stretch 50 to 90 kilometers above the Earths surface, into the ionosphere. The coloration is a result of nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere getting excited by the electrical discharge.

Red sprites develop in conjunction with large-scale thunderstorm activity, specifically above the intense electrical discharges of positive cloud-to-ground lightning. They are believed to arise from the imbalance in electrical charge between the upper atmosphere and the thunderclouds below.

The study of red sprites offers valuable insights into atmospheric electricity and upper-atmosphere conditions. They play a role in the Earths electrical balance and can impact various atmospheric chemical processes.

Advancements in high-speed photography and observational techniques have significantly enhanced our understanding of red sprites. Satellites, airborne observations, and ground-based photometric arrays are now instrumental in studying these transient events.

Despite advancements, observing and studying red sprites remain challenging due to their unpredictability and brief lifespan. Future research aims to better understand the impact of sprites on the atmosphere and their relation to other meteorological phenomena.

In summary, red sprites, while still shrouded in mystery, offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex interplay of Earths weather systems and atmospheric electricity. Continued research and observation promise to uncover more secrets of these ephemeral lights, deepening our understanding of our planets atmospheric dynamics.

As discussed above, red sprites are a form of upper atmospheric lightning, a spectacular and somewhat mysterious phenomenon that captures the curiosity of scientists and sky-watchers alike. Unlike the more familiar lightning that occurs within clouds or between clouds and the ground, red sprites are transient luminous events that appear high above thunderstorms, reaching into the Earths ionosphere.

The story of red sprites begins with their discovery. Although pilots had reported seeing unusual red lights above thunderstorms for decades, the scientific community largely dismissed these reports until 1989. That year, scientists at the University of Minnesota accidentally captured images of red sprites while filming a thunderstorm. This serendipitous discovery marked the beginning of focused scientific research into these elusive phenomena.

Red sprites are named for their distinct coloration. Typically, they appear as red at higher altitudes and fade to blue at lower altitudes. This coloration is due to the interaction of electrical discharges with nitrogen in the Earths atmosphere. Sprites can take various shapes, including jellyfish-like forms with tendrils extending downward and columnar shapes known as carrot sprites.

Forming at altitudes between 50 to 90 kilometers (31 to 56 miles), red sprites occur directly above large thunderstorm systems. They are fleeting, lasting only milliseconds, and are best observed at night. Their formation is thought to be linked to the intense electrical activity in thunderstorms. When a powerful positive lightning strike occurs within the cloud, it can create an imbalance in the electric field above the storm, triggering the appearance of sprites.

The study of red sprites is not just for aesthetic appreciation. It also holds significant scientific importance. Understanding sprites can provide insights into the electrical and chemical processes in the upper atmosphere. They are also thought to play a role in the Earths global electric circuit, a complex system that involves the entire planets electromagnetic environment.

Research into red sprites is challenging due to their brief and unpredictable nature. Scientists use specialized high-speed cameras and sensitive telescopes to capture and study these elusive events. Additionally, research aircraft and satellites are employed to gain a better vantage point for observing and analyzing sprites.

In recent years, public interest in red sprites has grown, thanks in part to the spread of information on social media and the increasing accessibility of high-quality cameras. Amateur astronomers, astronauts and photographers have captured stunning images of red sprites, contributing to both the publics awareness and the scientific communitys understanding of these fascinating natural phenomena.

In summary, red sprites are a mesmerizing and complex element of our planets atmospheric behavior. They represent a beautiful intersection of earth science and atmospheric physics, offering both aesthetic wonder and scientific intrigue. As research continues, we can expect to learn more about how these fleeting flashes of light fit into the broader puzzle of Earths atmospheric processes.

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Astronauts find tomato lost 8 months earlier aboard ISS – Supercar Blondie

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In an out-of-this-world example of a tomato rolling under the fridge, astronauts have finally recovered a tomato that had been lost on the ISS for eight months.

Thanks to microgravity aboard the International Space Station (ISS), it wasnt as simple as merely following the logical path of the morsel according to gravity.

Microgravity, according to NASA, is the condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless.

READ MORE! First ever luxury Space Spa is literally like going to heaven

The effects of microgravity can be seen when astronauts and objects float in space, they said.

Think astronauts on tethers during ISS spacewalks to avoid them floating off into infinity its the same phenomenon.

Or the Tesla that Elon Musk launched into orbit.

Or even the tool bag that is currently orbiting Earth at 17,000 mph.

While the tasty tomato couldnt escape from inside the confines of the station, finding it was a mission in itself.

Just ask astronaut Frank Rubio, who lost the infamous tomato earlier this year

Francisco Carlos Frank Rubio is an American flight surgeon, US Army lieutenant colonel and helicopter pilot, as well as NASA astronaut.

He holds the American record for the longest spaceflight at 370 days and so getting a snack in space is something hes used to.

The tomato wasnt just part of a salad, however, it was a vital part of the ongoing experiments intogrowing crops on the ISS.

Astronauts grew salad crops to experiment with types of fertilizer and levels of light that are best for growing produce in orbit.

Astronauts have also successfully cultivated chilies, kale, radishes, and more.

But all that research is hungry work.

When Rubio tried to enjoy the fruits of his labor, one dwarf tomato floated away before he could scarf it.

Per Space.com, Rubio discussed the lost tomato in a livestream following his return to Earth in September after he came back to earth.

I spent so many hours looking for that thing, Rubio said.

Im sure the desiccated tomato will show up at some point and vindicate me, years in the future.

Now, after months of being MIA, the rogue produce has finally reappeared.

The news of its discovery was broken during a livestream to celebrate, not the tomatos triumphant return, but theISSs 25th anniversary.

NASA astronaut, Jasmin Moghbeli, broke the good news.

Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home [in September], has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato, she said.

But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato.

While you might wonder what all the fuss over a salad item is about, you have to appreciate that, amid the powdered and prepackaged produce astronauts endure, fresh fruit and vegetables are highly prized.

And the toll space travel can take on the human body has been widely researched and documented.

Research has also revealed that, aside from the obvious benefits of nutrition to physical health, the proximity to nature is also beneficial for astronauts mental health and well-being.

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NASA pushes back timing of ISS deorbit vehicle contract – The Register

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NASA pushes back timing of ISS deorbit vehicle contract  The Register

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