American Astronaut Scott Kelly Tweets Picture of First Flower Grown in Space

 

American Astronaut Scott Kelly, who is spending a year in space starting March last year, recently tweeted a picture of a beautiful orange zinnia grown in orbit.

First ever flower grown in space makes its debut! #SpaceFlower#zinnia#YearInSpacepic.twitter.com/2uGYvwtLKr

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 16, 2016

Yes, there are other life forms in space! #SpaceFlower#YearInSpacepic.twitter.com/BJFWvQXmBB

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 16, 2016

 Captain Kelly also shared a blog by NASA that explains the process of growing the plants in space to "better understand how plants grow in microgravity."

Earlier in December, the astronaut also tweeted a picture of the budding plant looking quite fragile. "I'm going to have to channel my inner Mark Watney," he had said in his tweet.
 

Our plants aren't looking too good. Would be a problem on Mars. I'm going to have to channel my inner Mark Watney. pic.twitter.com/m30bwCKA3w

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) December 27, 2015

And lo and behold, the plant has sprouted its first flower come January.
 

#SpaceFlower out in the sun for the first time! #YearInSpacepic.twitter.com/Cghu9XGv1J

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 17, 2016

Captain Kelly, accompanied by Russian colleague Mikhail Korniyenko, have already spent over 290 days of the 342-day-mission aboard the International Space Station