A VARIETY of apple specific to Redditch is set for new heights, having gained the prestigious attention of space scientists at NASA.

The Doddin apple, hardly known outside the town, has been selected for an astronomic food growing project on the International Space Station (ISS) and is set to blast-off next month.

Two miniature Doddin apple trees will join a package of 90 other trees, including Syrian damsons and Palestinian olives, to be launched to the ISS from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 6.

NASA’s head of Astro-botany, Frank Pitts said: “We’re constantly researching new ways to cultivate food in space. Obviously fruit is highly nutritious. And the English apple is iconic.

"So when we heard about the Redditch Doddin, it met all our criteria. We need a fruit that crops quickly, and because astronauts on the ISS are in microgravity, we require an apple that’s quite small. So the Doddin is perfect for space travel.”

Growing "out of this world" food isn’t a new concept.

In 1983 the Space Ship Columbia began cultivating crops in space.

More recently, greenhouses on the ISS have proved popular in growing everything from turnips to basil, even rice and potatoes.

NASA’s 2019 “Food Orbits Our Lives” project has seen them gather plants from across the world, in the interest of preserving traditional varieties that are suitable for space travel. And the Doddin was selected.

If the project is successful, there are suggestions that the Redditch Doddin could be selected for a terra-forming project on the Moon or even Mars.

Harry Oakes of Headless Cross Community Orchard said: “This is a small step for space technology, but one giant leap for Redditch. It’s overwhelming! We’re big fans of the ISS. We watch it pass over our Christmas Carols most years, and we tell the children it’s Santa’s sleigh.

“The launch of the Redditch Doddin into space coincides with our May Fayre. So come along and celebrate it with us!

"We're pleased to see the Doddin boldly go, where no apple tree has gone before."