Potatoes were the first food to ever be successfully grown in outer space, beating out literally every other agricultural staple.

A closer look

Potatoes were the first food to ever be successfully grown in outer space, beating out literally every other agricultural staple. In 1995, NASA partnered with the University of Wisconsin to develop specialized growth chambers that allowed potato plants to thrive aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. They did this to test whether future astronauts could sustainably grow their own food during long-haul missions. It is comforting to know that even as humanity conquers the cosmos and ventures into the terrifying void of the unknown, our primary dietary priority remains securing a reliable source of french fries and vodka for the inevitable existential dread of deep space travel!