In 2015, astronauts brewed espresso in orbit and drank it from a 3D-printed cup; surface tension pulled the coffee toward their lips without gravityAstronauts can now drink coffee normally in space thanks to a special 3D-printed cup. This innovative design utilizes capillary flow to mov...
27 Aug, 2026, 01.00 PM IST
In 1997, NASA launched Columbia to study undercooled molten metals in microgravity; the STS-83 mission also carried experiments on sintering and fire behaviorThe 1997 mission of space shuttle Columbia was cut short due to problems with fuel cells. However, the crew managed to perform crucial micr...
26 Aug, 2026, 07.00 PM IST
In 1969, Neil Armstrong brought Moon rocks back to Earth. NASA fed some of the lunar dust to German cockroaches, Japanese quail, and other animalsFollowing the Apollo 11 mission, NASA embarked on some groundbreaking biological experiments involving lunar samples. They conducted tests ...
26 Aug, 2026, 05.07 PM IST
In 1984, NASA sent about 3,300 honeybees into space to test comb-building without gravity; the colony built about 31 square inches of honeycombIn 1984, honeybees traveled aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger for a unique student experiment. These bees successfully built honeycomb an...
26 Aug, 2026, 04.35 PM IST
NASA mixed cement aboard the space station; it hardened with strange stripes and highly porous structures that may affect its strengthAstronauts on the International Space Station conducted a unique experiment blending cement in microgravity. This innovative study seeks to...
26 Aug, 2026, 02.50 PM IST
In 2023, NASA grew tomatoes for 100 days aboard the space station; ground plants produced more than 100, while the space crop yielded 12 and was not eatenNASA's tomato experiment on the International Space Station faced major hurdles in microgravity, where watering issues resulted in uneven m...
26 Aug, 2026, 02.40 PM IST
In 2001, NASA sent the science behind toothpaste and salad dressing into space; the research later helped produce three P&G patentsSince 2001, NASA has explored the behavior of colloids aboard the International Space Station, where the lack of gravity permits intricate ...
26 Aug, 2026, 02.00 PM IST
In 2015, NASA astronauts ate space-grown lettuce in orbit for the first time; fresh food may also help support crew morale on long missionsAstronauts aboard the International Space Station made history by eating lettuce that was grown in microgravity. This significant event sho...
26 Aug, 2026, 01.20 PM IST
In 1995, NASA ditched space for an experiment and got spiders stoned on marijuana, caffeine, chloral hydrate, etc.; one of these made spiders’ webs wonky and disorganised. It was not marijuanaUsually, NASA is synonymous with space missions and exploring the cosmos. Yet one time, the researchers at NASA became temporary behavioura...
25 Aug, 2026, 09.09 PM IST
In 2014, NASA sent young and older mice into space; within 9 to 11 days, the younger ones began running group laps in zero gravityIn 2014, NASA launched a group of twenty mice to the International Space Station for groundbreaking research. Remarkably, the young mice ex...
25 Aug, 2026, 07.54 PM IST
In 1997, NASA sent a lightning sensor into orbit aboard TRMM to study storms. 29 years later, the mission’s data still helps scientists understand lightning, rainfall and climateNASA's Lightning Imaging Sensor aboard TRMM studied lightning's role in weather. Earlier missions observed lightning from space, revealing ...
25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
In 2012, NASA observed a fuel droplet continue burning invisibly in space after the visible flame went out, producing carbon monoxide and formaldehydeNASA's 2012 space station experiment revealed an invisible cool flame phenomenon. This unexpected discovery occurred when fuel droplets con...
25 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST
In 1973, NASA sent two fish into space to test their swimming ability in zero gravity; they initially swam in loops but later used light as cue to move normally after 21 daysIn 1973, NASA sent two mummichog fish and 50 eggs aboard Skylab 3 to study how weightlessness affected their sense of balance. The fish ini...
25 Aug, 2026, 08.12 AM IST
In 1973, NASA sent about two spiders into space to test web-building without gravity; within days, they adapted and spun complete webs in orbitTwo spiders, Arabella and Anita, flew on Skylab 3 to test web-building in space. Initially disoriented, the spiders eventually adapted to t...
24 Aug, 2026, 11.01 PM IST
In 1969, three NASA astronauts abroad Apollo 10 flew incredibly close to the Moon. They had a lunar module a working descent engine but weren't allowed to landDuring the Apollo 10 mission, astronauts soared just nine miles above the Moon's surface, meticulously testing lunar module systems and lan...
24 Aug, 2026, 09.46 PM IST
In 1966, Michael Collins lost a camera and a micrometeorite experiment during a Gemini X spacewalk; both drifted away into orbitDuring the Gemini X mission in 1966, astronaut Michael Collins faced setbacks when he lost both his camera and a scientific experiment duri...
23 Aug, 2026, 01.50 PM IST
In 1971, Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell threw a metal pole like a javelin on the moon: it still lies near one of Shepard's golf ballsDuring the Apollo 14 mission, astronauts Edgar Mitchell and Alan Shepard showcased their playful spirit while traversing the lunar surface....
22 Aug, 2026, 06.50 PM IST