Space food: What do astronauts eat?
The menu for astronauts in the orbit is quite different from the foods that we have on our plate every day. This is because food needs to meet certain criteria to be fit for consumption in the zero-gravity environment of space. Firstly, the food needs to be pre-cooked. Secondly, they need to be processed in a way that doesn’t necessitate refrigeration. This is because it’s not possible to have refrigerator in the space. However, astronauts are provided with an oven at the space station to heat their food. In space, everything that astronauts eat comes in disposable packages specially designed to be flexible, allowing maximum space for storage and disposal. Usually, bags with zip locks, retort pouches and cans are used for packaging due to their light weight, compact size and airtight seals. These prevent spoilage and spillage. Also, foods that leave crumbs and a lot of waste are not suitable for the orbit.
The menu of an astronaut
Historically, food in space used to be dehydrated. They used to be served in the form of paste and consumed through tubes. In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to step into the outer space, ate beef, and chocolate sauce in the form of paste from a tube in the course of his mission.
However, with the advancement of technology and the evolution of food processing and packaging, space menu has come a long way from pastes and tubes. Now, astronauts have a wide range of food choices including fresh fruits, nuts, peanut butter, chicken, meet, seafood, candy and brownies among others. They can also have beverages like coffee, tea, orange juice, fruit punches and lemonade. In fact, condiments such as ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise, are provided. Astronauts need to have a calcium-rich diet in the orbit. This is because prolonged stay the in the space can lead to loss of muscle mass and bone density by up to 20 per cent, increasing the risk of fracture when astronauts return to earth.
The weight of food allowed for the space ninjas is 1.72 kg per person per day which includes packaging weight as well (0.45 kg approximately). In terms of calories, the requirement for men in 3200 while the figure for women is 1900.
Ways to have different types of food
While some foods can be eaten in their natural forms, others need to be processed for consumption in the orbit.
Fresh produce: Fruits and vegetables can be taken in their natural form. However, their shelf life is not more than two days in the space.
Nuts, cookies and brownies: Packaged in flexible plastic pouches, they can be eaten in the natural form.
Cereals, dairy products and dried foods: Water needs to be added to these products (cheese and pasta for example) to make them ready for consumption in the orbit.
Meat: For consumption in space, meet needs to be preserved through exposure to ionizing radiation. This increases its shelf life and decreases the danger of microbial contamination.
Salt and pepper: Astronauts can have them in liquid form in space. This is because salt and pepper will simply float away there, clogging air vents and contaminating equipment. They can also get stuck in the eyes, nose and mouth of astronauts.