Spaceship brings toaster on ISS station

The Antares 230+ rocket takes the Cygnus NG-12 spacecraft off the launch pad at the Wallops Flight Facility (NASA), Virginia, on the morning of November 2.

Cygnus NG-12 spacecraft leaves the launch pad in Virginia, USA.(Photo: SpaceNews).

The ship carried 3,700kg of scientific equipment and other items to the crew on the International Space Station (ISS), including an oven and materials to conduct the cookie baking experiment. Zero G Kitchen and NanoRacks have teamed up to create the first oven to operate in this microgravity environment.

Food at ISS is mainly heated by hot water. This is the first time astronauts have tried baking. They will examine how the high temperature and microgravity environment affects the shape and texture of the cake. According to the DoubleTree hotel chain, a supplier of batter, this experiment aims to make long-distance space travel more comfortable.

Cygnus NG-12 also brought to the ISS station a suit to protect people from cosmic radiation. Astronauts will assess the comfort of the new suit. Lamborghini, meanwhile, sends up a number of carbon-fiber sports car parts to test the impact on exposure to the space environment. Cygnus NG-12 also brought equipment to help astronauts complete a series of spacewalks to repair equipment on the ISS station this month.