The Case of the Missing Space Tomatoes

Two rogue tomatoes have been recovered nearly a year after astronaut Frank Rubio accidentally lost track of them while harvesting for the XROOTS experiment, proving Rubio did not eat the tomatoes as they previously suspected. The rogue fruit was found in a plastic bag dehydrated and slightly squished with some discoloration but with no visible microbial or fungal growth. XROOTS uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil or other growth media. Current plant systems may not scale well in a space environment due to mass, maintenance, and sanitation issues. XROOT’s soil-less techniques could provide suitable solutions for plant systems needed for future space exploration missions. Research aboard the space station is advancing the technology and scientific knowledge needed to successfully grow plants in space and help humans push the boundaries of space travel. Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars -- discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox. Subscribe at: www.nasa.gov/subscribe

What is said in the film

The mystery of the missing tomatoes aboard the International Space Station has been solved! As we approach longer term missions we need to be able to grow our food and sustain. And it’s really important to have fresh food. In 2022, astronaut Frank Rubio tended to tomato plants using the space station’s XROOTS system during his record-breaking 371-day mission. XROOTS uses hydroponic and aeroponic techniques to grow plants without soil, which could provide solutions for plant systems needed for future missions.

We were growing some of the first tomatoes. I harvested. Looks like we have one ripe tomato that just came loose. And I put it in a little bag. And then, I was pretty confident that I velcroed it where I was supposed to velcro it And then I came back and it was gone.

And I mean I spent probably eight to twenty hours of my own time looking for that tomato. A lot of people are like, he probably ate the tomato. And I wanted to find it mostly so I could prove like I did not eat the tomato. So I never found it. Hopefully someone will find it some day.

Some little shriveled thing in a ziploc bag. Months after Rubio’s return to Earth, Expedition 70 crewmembers closed this peculiar case. Well we might have found something that someone had been looking for for quite a while. Our good friend Frank Rubio who headed home has been blamed for quite a while for eating a tomato, but we can exonerate him. We found the tomatoes.

Nearly a year after they disappeared, the rogue tomatoes were found dehydrated and slightly squished but with no visible microbial or fungal growth. Our understanding of growing small crops in space has increased significantly thanks to station research. This understanding of plants is a crucial tool for pushing the boundaries of space travel and preparing us to explore other planets. NASA

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