Pie in the Sky

Astronaut Peggy Whitson‘s first NASA mission was a six-month stay on the International Space Station in 2002.  During that mission, a supply shuttle docked with special cargo from her husband: A pecan pie and a bottle of hot sauce.

More:

“That Time an Astronaut Got a Pie Sent to the International Space Station,” Megan Garber, The Atlantic

“Why Astronauts Crave Tabasco Sauce,” Joe Palca, NPR

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Ice Cream Delivery in Space!

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has successfully delivered it’s cargo of Blue Bell Ice Cream Sundae Cups to the orbiting International Space Station. This is the first of a dozen missions on SpaceX’s $1.6 billion contract with NASA. See the quantum leap you get with a private space launch company? No more freeze-dried astronaut ice cream.

Space Cucumbers

Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa has been lifted to the International Space Station by a Soyuz rocket. What will Dr. Furukawa do in outer space? Grow cucumbers. And maybe some tomatoes.

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Earthquake Shocks Reach Outer Space

 

When the space shuttle Discovery (STS-133) visited the International Space Station (ISS), the Japanese robotic space freighter KOUNOTORI2 was already up there, and the station crew moved it to an alternate location. Discovery left for earth, and the crew moved the freighter back to the original port to continue working.  When the earthquake struck Japan, the Japanese space program’s ground control station at Tsukuba was evacuated due to power failure and shortages of fuel and water.  Photos indicate some interior damage, but there are no reports of injuries. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has  passed control of the space station’s Kibo module to NASA ground facilities in Houston and Huntsville.  The unmanned Japanese supply ship remains at the ISS and scheduled work with it has been postponed.

 

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Cupola: Cafe Bella Vista

NASA’s Evel Knievel Memorial Space Stunt Program aims at putting humans in space for the scientific purpose of … putting humans in space. Italy now brings some European sophistication to this effort.

NASA’s idea of “sophistication” was spelling the name of a space shuttle  “Endeavour”  instead of “Endeavor” back in 1987.  Monday morning the same creaking craft hurled aloft with improvements for the International Space Shoppes (ISS).

Europe is opening two new Space Shoppes modules, the utilitarian Tranquility and the stylish Cupola. The latter (pictured above) offers diners scenic space vistas, and will complement the Asian fare of Japan’s austere Kibo Noodle Shop.

With Cupola in place, the ISS Food Court of Nations will be virtually complete. Thank goodness the International Space Toilet was repaired. Twice.

Image by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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