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Space Potato Hits the Streets

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the i-know-a-few-space-potatos dept.

gasmanpopey writes to tell us that sweet potato seeds sent to space as a part of China's Shenzhou VI mission are hitting the streets as a part of special Valentine's day meals. While supporters are trying to claim better flavor and better nutrition there doesn't seem to be anything beyond a pure novelty angle.

3 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Space tomato seeds - NASA by kbrosnan · · Score: 4, Informative

    NASA has been sending seeds to space for a long time. In 1989 I, and all my classmates, received packages of tomato seeds as part of LDEF Experiment P0004-01. A little bit of Googleing turned up Park Seed SEEDS project which nicely describes the project. Most of my classmates killed their plants. I planted mine in the family garden and bore fruit. That was quite tasty. As I recall there was some legalese that said don't eat the fruit that the plants bear lest you turn into a tomato based superhero.

    The Long Duration Exposure Facility project main page.
    --
    These people look deep within my soul and assign me a number based upon the order I joined. -Homer Simpson
  2. Re:Moo by Gospodin · · Score: 2, Informative

    Change subject to: Mao.

    This reminds me of the Lysenkoist agricultural programs adopted during the Great Leap Forward: Space Potato 10x more nutritious than right-deviant potatoes, also enhances fellowship!

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    ...following the principles of Heisenburger's Uncertain Cat...
  3. Re:my first though: why didn't the burn up on reen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Actually... they were sent up and came back in a capsule. Only us mighty capitalistic Americans use a shuttle to traverse space!