Orange Zinnia is first flower to bloom in space
Q. Which is the first flower to bloom in space?- Published on 21 Jan 16a. Zinnia
b. Orchid
c. Jasmine
d. Magnolia
ANSWER: Zinnia
A blooming zinnia following a successful lettuce harvest at the ISS (International Space Station) heralds a giant leap for zero-gravity gardening. The orange zinnia looks like a daisy and has a reputation for being one of the easiest flowers to grow on Earth. In space, though, it was a challenge getting it to sprout. The flower is part of a wider attempt to grow food in orbit, using Nasa’s plant growth system Veggie, which was delivered to the ISS in April 2014. The Veggie team has already enjoyed a successful lettuce harvest and plan to have tomatoes too by 2017. Ultimately, the hope is to make possible “a sustainable food supplement” for a future manned mission to Mars. But space gardening is plagued with problems, including high radiation levels and temperature extremes. Fortunately, with the ISS in a low orbit, the Earth’s magnetic field shields plants from the worst radiation effects. Inside the station, the atmosphere can be tightly controlled.
