SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft landed off the coast of Florida Wednesday night carrying search materials, equipment and 12 French bottles wine.
But not just any wine!
Those bottles of wine and some grapevines has spent about a year in the International Space Station, circling the world in the name of science.
The wine will not be opened until the end of February. That’s when Space Cargo Unlimited plans to open a bottle or two of wine tasting outside this world in Bordeaux, France.
Agricultural science is the main focus of the research, says Nicolas Gaume, chief executive and co-founder of the company. But he admits it will be fun to try the wine. He will be among the few who are lucky enough to have a taste, along with some French wine experts.
Months of chemical testing come. Researchers want to see how the wine’s sediment location has changed and bubbles. Sediment is the process by which a substance is transported to a liquid base.
Gaume told the Associated Press that his company’s goal is to try to “how we will have a combined agriculture tomorrow.” organic and healthy and able to feed humanity. ”Gaume said,“ we think it has a place key. ”
With climate change, Gaume needs agricultural products such as grapes to be able to survive in more difficult conditions. Through a series of space experiments, Space Cargo Unlimited hopes what will be learned to make plants stronger on Earth.
There is another reason for such a place study. Gaume expects future explorers to be on the moon and Mars will want to enjoy some of the nice things on Earth. “Being a Frenchman is part of life, getting good food and good wine,” he said.
The wine bottles were kept in steel containers for safety when they entered the space station on the Northrop Grumman ship in November 2019. The 320 pieces of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, known as cans in the industry, left grape growing, on the SpaceX spacecraft. Last March.
Currently, SpaceX’s Dragon is the only spacecraft capable of returning space station experiments and other objects to Earth. Others burn up in the atmosphere when they return.
My name is Bryan Lynn.
Marcia Dunn reported this story to the Associated Press. John Russell made it suitable for learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in this story
wine – n. an alcoholic beverage made from grape juice
grapevine – n. climbing plant grown grains
bubbles – n. a tiny ball of air or gas inside a liquid
organic – adj. of food: grown or made without the use of key artificial chemicals