The first flower bloom in space

• Author:Pauline
• Source:www.SeaArtRhinestone.com
• Release on :2016-01-20

Science is blooming stronger than ever. 

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly tweeted a photo over the weekend of the first flower to ever bloom in space. Kelly cared for the orange zinnia for over a month. 

The Veggie plant growth facility aboard the International Space Station chose the zinnia flowerspecies because its longer growth cycle can help astronauts and scientists understand how plants grow in microgravity. 

"While the plants haven't grown perfectly," Gioia Massa, NASA science team lead for Veggie, said in a statement. "I think we have gained a lot from this, and we are learning both more about plants and fluids and also how better to operate between ground and station." 

This was not the first time attempt at growing zinnias, though. 

Other astronauts aboard the ISS began growing the colorful flowers last year, but due to high humidity and low air flow, the plants leaked water out of the tips of their leaves. Mold was also affecting the growth. 

Kelly then took over the operation and began tending to the plants as he would in his own garden. The ISS also successfully grew red romaine lettuce in July 2015. Kelly even took a bite of the harvested plants and posted the photo on his Twitter account. 

NASA's next experimental growth using the Veggie plant growth system will be later this year. Astronauts will attempt to grow Chinese cabbage. 

The space agency will then attempt at growing dwarf tomatoes in 2018.