Space food

Space food is a type of food product created and processed for consumption by astronauts in outer space. The food has specific requirements of providing balanced nutrition for individuals working in space, while being easy and safe to store, prepare and consume in the machinery-filled weightless environments of crewed spacecraft.

History

The first person to eat in space was Yuri Gagarin, during Vostok 1 in 1961. The meal was a tube of beef and liver paste and a tube of chocolate paste. Later missions used more complex food preparation, including cooking and hot water.

Types of Space Food

Space food comes in many forms, including:

• Thermostabilized - heat-treated to destroy harmful bacteria and enzymes.
• Dehydrated - water is removed before flight and added back in space.
• Intermediate moisture - partially dehydrated to make it less perishable.
• Natural form - foods such as nuts and cookies that require no further preparation.

Preparation and Consumption

In space, food and drink are prepared on a tray with magnets, springs, and Velcro to hold the food packages to the tray. Astronauts use scissors to cut open the packages, which are designed to be easy to re-close for stowage of leftovers.

Health and Nutrition

Space food must be carefully formulated to ensure astronauts receive all necessary nutrients. This includes vitamins and minerals, as well as calories for energy.

See Also

• Astronaut
• Spacecraft
• Nutrition

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