A cargo ship is launched to the International Space Station with special food delivery for astronauts.
US global airline Northrop Grumman launched its capsule from the Virginia coast on Friday.
It contained a 360-degree camera designed for spacewalks, radish seeds for growth, and an assortment of meats and cheeses for a banquet.
The shipment also included compressed air tanks to aid compensation Leak in the space station; A new $ 23 million titanium toilet designed for women, and a VR camera that will provide cinematic footage of spacewalks and other outdoor scenes from space.
The 3,600kg unmanned cargo is now expected to reach its destination on Monday.
The launch provided beautiful skies for observers from Carolina to New England – where the skies were clear.
The shipment includes meats and cheeses ready in time for Thanksgiving. Pic: Northrop Grumman / NASA
“It was an amazing launch,” said NASA Deputy Space Station Program Director Kenny Todd.
“Create an artificial dawn for a few minutes in there, it’s cool.”
The Cygnus capsule contains the array of delicacies that astronauts have ordered – including Genoa salami, smoked gouda, provolone, brie, cherry tomatoes, oranges, walnuts, and chocolate-covered cranberries – all in time for Thanksgiving on November 26.
It also contains more fresh food than usual, as the number of people on the space station will increase from six to seven with the launch of the second SpaceX astronaut at the end of the month.
Astronauts will have the opportunity to grow their crop this year by adding horseradish.
The researchers hope that 40 seeds sent out will spread within a month.
Larger plants like peppers and tomatoes may follow within a few years.
NASA’s new toilet aims to better accommodate women at a time when more astronauts are expected to go into space.
