The Moon may be the final frontier for mankind, but what will we eat when we get there?
Add to that a proliferation of tourism projects rocketing deep-pocketed individuals up to the edge of space and it begs one question for a food writer like me: what will we eat when we get there?
"Food is something that keeps astronauts sane," says Dr Sonja Brungs, astronaut operations deputy lead at the European Space Agency.
"Good food, proper food with a lot of variety, tailored to the needs of the individual astronauts is crucial for a successful deep space mission.
Astronauts add water to heat or cool the meals to eat; they can also bring along a special meal that reminds them of home (this too has to be carefully formulated and thermostabilized).
The Moon may be the final frontier for mankind, but what will we eat when we get there? Pasta and protein bars made out of thin air are just the beginning.
Space fever is approaching at warp speed. In the next two years, Nasa plans to send astronauts back to the Moon via its Artemis program; the International Space Station (ISS), designed to orbit for 15 years but now hitting its 26th year in space, will soon be replaced; and scientists are looking seriously into the possibility of manned deep space missions. Add to that a proliferation of tourism projects rocketing deep-pocketed individuals up to the edge of space and it begs one question for a food writer like me: what will we eat when we get there?
"Food is something that keeps astronauts sane," says Dr Sonja Brungs, astronaut operations deputy lead at the European Space Agency. "Good food, proper food with a lot of variety, tailored to the needs of the individual astronauts is crucial for a successful deep space mission. I think people underestimate how important it is."
Currently, astronauts are given small food pouches containing prepared meals. These meals are made by specialized food-production companies and then freeze-dried, dehydrated or thermostabilised. Astronauts add water to heat or cool the meals to eat; they can also bring along a special meal that reminds them of home (this too has to be carefully formulated and thermostabilized).
Read more at bbc.com
