NASA astronaut Frank Rubio, who spent a record-setting 371 days on the International Space Station, faced speculation about consuming a significant scientific achievement: a tomato grown and harvested in space.
The disappearance led to accusations of secret consumption, but the tomato was eventually found, exonerating Rubio.
The tomato’s misplacement during a demonstration for students caused concern, but its recovery vindicated Rubio and preserved the important study on plant growth in space. (Trending: Trump Releases Must-See Christmas Message)
According to the New York Times, Rubio, “had to confront one small, red mark on his legacy: He had lost a tomato somewhere in the International Space Station.”
“The tomato’s disappearance, he explained, had led to speculation that he had eaten it in secret, thus consuming important scientific research in a fit of desire for fresh produce while he was orbiting Earth,” continued the outlet.
NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli said, “Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home [already], has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato.”
“But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato,” she continued.
“I spent so many hours looking for that thing,” said Rubio.
“I’m sure the desiccated tomato will show up at some point and vindicate me, years in the future,” added the astronaut.
“I was pretty confident that I Velcroed it where I was supposed to Velcro it, and then I came back and it was gone,” recalled Rubio.
“I wanted to find it mostly so I could prove, like, ‘I did not eat the tomato,’” he continued.
🍅 The great tomato mystery of @Space_Station 🚀
"Our good friend Frank Rubio, who headed home, has been blamed for quite a while for eating the tomato. But we can exonerate him. We found the tomato," NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli @AstroJaws 🕵️♀️😂 pic.twitter.com/vfoNGl3Ls0
— OrbitalToday.com (@SpaceBiz1) December 9, 2023
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