Newton's Apple Tree Bound For Gravity-Free Orbit
Sir Isaac Newton famously formulated his theory of gravity while watching an apple fall from a tree. Now a bit of that tree is going into zero gravity. The space shuttle launching Friday will carry a sliver of Newton's apple tree. The tree still grows at the physicist's old home in England. A British-born astronaut will release the sliver at the international space station and let it "float around for a bit."
RENEE MONTAGNE, host:
Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne.
Sir Isaac Newton famously formulated his theory of gravity while watching an apple fall from a tree back in 1666. Now a bit of that tree is going zero gravity. The space shuttle, launching this Friday, will carry a sliver of Sir Isaac's apple tree. The tree still grows at the physicist's old home in England. A British astronaut will release the wood sliver at the international space station and let it float around a bit.
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