The Dragon SpaceX spacecraft landed off the Florida coast Wednesday carrying research materials, equipment and 12 bottles of French you.
But not just any wine!
These bottles of wine and some vineyards he had spent about a year on the International Space Station, orbiting the world in the name of science.
The wine will not open until the end of February. That’s when Space Cargo Unlimited plans to open one or two bottles to do a wine tasting out of the world in Bordeaux, France.
Agricultural science is the main focus of the research, says Nicolas Gaume, head and co-founder of the company. But he admits it will be fun to try the wine. He will be one of the lucky few to try it, along with some French wine experts.
Months of chemical testing will follow. Researchers want to see how space changed the sedimentation of wine and bubbles. Sedimentation is the process by which material is carried to the bottom of a liquid.
Gaume told the Associated Press that his company’s goal is to try to understand “how we will have an agriculture tomorrow that is both organic and healthy and able to feed humanity. ”Gaume added,“ We believe space has key“.
With climate change, Gaume added agricultural products such as grapes to be able to live in more difficult conditions. Through a series of space experiments, Space Cargo Unlimited hopes to take what is learned to make the strongest plants on Earth.
There is another reason to do this space research. Gaume looks forward to future explorers on the Moon and Mars will want to enjoy some nice things on Earth. “Being French, it’s part of life to have good food and good wine,” he said.
The wine bottles were stored in steel containers for safety when they went to the space station of a Northrop Grumman ship in November 2019. The 320 pieces of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines, called canes from the wine business, went stay on the SpaceX spacecraft last March.
At this time, the SpaceX dragon is the only spacecraft capable of returning to Earth experiments from space stations and other objects. Others burn in the atmosphere when they return.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Marcia Dunn reported this story to the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it to learn English. Hai Do was the editor.
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Words in this story
you – n. an alcoholic beverage made from grape juice
vineyard – n. a climbing plant on which the grapes grow
bubble – n. a small round ball of air or gas inside a liquid
organic – adj. of food: grown or made without the use of key artificial chemicals