International Space Station Update

Feb 15-19, 2016

• Space Farming: Space farmer Scott Kelly harvests first “space zinnia” grown aboard Space Station
  After cultivating romaine lettuce and zinnia flowers aboard the International Space Station with the help of NASA’s marathon astronaut Scott Kelly, NASA intends to grow tomatoes in the veggie greenhouse. Fresh fruit and vegetables could be an important part of the physical and mental health of astronauts assigned to future missions of deep space exploration. Kelly is due back on Earth on Mar. 1, after nearly a year in orbit, the longest single space flight by an American.
  Fire
• Experiments on Station: NASA plans to light a fire in a spacecraft, then watch what happens
  NASA astronaut Tim Kopra, a current resident of the International Space Station, is in charge of BASS-M, or the Burning and Suppression of Solids experiment, research that characterizes how fire behaves in weightlessness. The experiments, carefully constrained, could save lives.

Citizens for Space Exploration – a pro-space, taxpayer, grassroots advocacy group (http://www.bayareahouston.com/content/c_s_e/c_s_e) – has traveled to Washington, D.C. the past 24 years to meet face-to-face with Members/staff of Congress to discuss the value of America’s investment in space exploration. In order to sustain that dialogue on a regular basis, Citizens distributes “Space Exploration Update” to Congressional offices on a weekly basis. The intent is to provide an easy, quick way to stay abreast of key human space exploration program and policy developments.