Rose — a symbol of Earth, love, and fleeting beauty. Suddenly, it turns out to be at the center of cosmic experiments. First in orbit, then — in plans for Mars. What made serious scientists take up growing flowers in weightlessness and on another planet? The answer lies in psychology, biology, and our eternal need for the beautiful. We tell you how the rose conquered cosmic space.Rose on the Mir Space Station: The First Bud in WeightlessnessIn the late 1980s, Soviet scientists from the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems (IMBP) came up with an experiment: to grow a plant from seed to flower on board the Mir orbital station. The choice fell on the rose — the most "human" flower. In 1990, a miniature greenhouse "Svetoblok" (an apparatus with a lamp and nutrient medium) was delivered to the station. Rose varieties were selected specifically — dwarf, resilient, and fast-flowering ("Floribunda" and miniature "Stars and Stripes"). The experiment was called "Rose" (or "Rose"). According to legend, cosmonauts were supposed to observe the growth and record the stages. Problems began immediately: in weightlessness, water was distributed unevenly, roots suffocated, and pollen clogged the filters. The first cuttings died. But desperate scientists and cosmonauts (especially Viktor Afanasyev) persevered.In 1991, a miracle happened: a rose bloomed on the Mir station (by other data — an orchid, but most sources say it was a rose). This was an incredible victory — the first flower in space. The petals were paler than those on Earth, and the scent was almost absent (due to the lack of gravity and changes in plant metabolism). Nevertheless, the photo of the rose in the window spread around the world. The experiment proved that higher plants can complete their full cycle outside Earth. Later, roses were grown on the Mir station and the ISS, but already as part of the water recycling and psychological crew relief system. Unfortunately, many details of the experiments remain cla ... Read more