10 Bizarre Objects Launched into Space

TL;DR

SpaceX's launch of Falcon Heavy, along with the launch of Elon Musk's Tesla roadster, has sparked interest in space. This analysis explores other strange items that have been sent into space, including mutating tomatoes, dinosaur bones, handguns, pizza, and even nudes.

Transcript

There’s little question that SpaceX’s launch of Falcon Heavy was historic, this is a truly huge development in the exploration of space that allows an expansion of our heavy lift capabilities, but has also rekindled interest in space simply by virtue of launching something unusual; Elon’s Musk’s Tesla roadster. The roadster launch garnered the atte... Read More

Key Insights

• 👾 The launch of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and the Tesla roadster has reignited public interest in space exploration.
• 👾 Space agencies and private companies have sent various unusual items into space to conduct experiments, capture people's imaginations, or add a touch of eccentricity.
• ☠️ Objects like mutating tomatoes, dinosaur bones, handguns, pizza, and even nudes on the Pioneer Plaque represent different aspects of human culture and exploration.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why were mutating tomatoes launched into space?

Mutating tomatoes were flown into space to observe their growth and see if exposure to space affected their properties. Multiple missions, including one by the Soviet Union and later by NASA, aimed to examine the effects of cosmic rays and zero gravity on these plants.

Q: What was the purpose of sending dinosaur bones into space?

In 1985, bits of dinosaur bones and shells from maiasaura peeblesorum were flown on Spacelab 2 simply because it seemed like a cool idea. Similarly, in 1998, a small dinosaur skull was flown to Mir and returned to Earth. These missions were part of science outreach efforts and aimed to capture people's imaginations.

Q: Why were Soviet cosmonauts equipped with handguns in space?

Soviet cosmonauts were equipped with handguns with triple barrels as a safety measure during their landings in Siberia. In case their capsules landed in remote areas where retrieval might take some time, cosmonauts needed to protect themselves from dangerous animals and be able to hunt for food.

Q: How did a wheel of cheese and a movie poster end up in space?

SpaceX included a wheel of cheese and a movie poster for the Val Kilmer film "Top Secret!" on their first Dragon capsule in 2010. This unusual cargo was a nod to a Monty Python sketch and added a touch of humor to the mission. SpaceX has since become known for its eccentric cargo choices.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The launch of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, including Elon Musk's Tesla roadster, has generated significant interest in space exploration.

• Various unusual items have been launched into space, including mutating tomatoes, dinosaur bones, handguns for self-defense in Siberia, delivery pizza, golf equipment, a poster for a minor Val Kilmer movie, bacteria for study, nudes on the Pioneer Plaque, and a nuclear manhole cover.

• These objects serve different purposes, from scientific experiments to cultural representations, and highlight the diverse range of items humans have sent into space.