NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly Tweets Photos of the First Flowers Ever Grown in Space

First ever flower grown in space makes its debut! #SpaceFlower #zinnia #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/2uGYvwtLKr

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 16, 2016

NASA astronaut Scott J. Kelly proudly announced via Twitter that the first flowers ever grown in space have bloomed! The flower, an orange zinnia, grew as a product of the Veggie Plant Growth System which was activated on the International Space Station in 2014. This is an amazing feat for the crew who essentially "scienced the shit out of it" and per the NASA site, a lot was learned with this bloom.

While the plants haven't grown perfectly," said Dr. Gioia Massa, NASA science team lead for Veggie, "I think we have gained a lot from this, and we are learning both more about plants and fluids and also how better to operate between ground and station. Regardless of final flowering outcome we will have gained a lot

Some of my space flowers are on the rebound! No longer looking sad! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/HJzXaTItIf

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 8, 2016

Yes, there are other life forms in space! #SpaceFlower #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/BJFWvQXmBB

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 16, 2016

#SpaceFlower out in the sun for the first time! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/Cghu9XGv1J

- Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) January 17, 2016

image via Scott Kelly