What do astronauts eat in space, and why?
What
do
astronauts
eat
in
space
,
and
why
?
How did astronaut food come into being?
How
did
astronaut
food
come
into
being
?
How do astronauts preserve food for long periods of time in space?
How
do
astronauts
preserve
food
for
long
periods
of
time
in
space
?
NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has been researching food for space travel since the 1960's to find the best way of keeping astronauts from going hungry.
NASA
(
the
National
Aeronautics
and
Space
Administration
)
has
been
researching
food
for
space
travel
since
the
1960
's
to
find
the
best
way
of
keeping
astronauts
from
going
hungry
.
The research could date from an accident that took place on the first manned Gemini mission in 1965. astronaut John Young managed to sneak a corned beef sandwich onto the Geminni III capsule to eat during its orbit around Earth.
The
research
could
date
from
an
accident
that
took
place
on
the
first
manned
Gemini
mission
in
1965.
astronaut
John
Young
managed
to
sneak
a
corned
beef
sandwich
onto
the
Geminni
III
capsule
to
eat
during
its
orbit
around
Earth
.
To Young's surprise, the sandwich plan did not go as expected; instead the sandwich began to break apart and scatter through the Geminni IIIcapsule.
To
Young
's
surprise
,
the
sandwich
plan
did
not
go
as
expected
;
instead
the
sandwich
began
to
break
apart
and
scatter
through
the
Geminni
IIIcapsule
.
This could have resulted in disaster, since a small piece of food could have stuck in the air vents and other equipment.
This
could
have
resulted
in
disaster
,
since
a
small
piece
of
food
could
have
stuck
in
the
air
vents
and
other
equipment
.
The sandwich was stuffed into a pocket to avoid the further mess inside the small space capsule This incident caused NASA to enforce strict rules on what types of food can be taken into space.
The
sandwich
was
stuffed
into
a
pocket
to
avoid
the
further
mess
inside
the
small
space
capsule
This
incident
caused
NASA
to
enforce
strict
rules
on
what
types
of
food
can
be
taken
into
space
.
Space food has come a long way since then.
Space
food
has
come
a
long
way
since
then
.
During the Gemini period, the astronauts mostly ate cubed, compressed foods high in calories and lightweight.
During
the
Gemini
period
,
the
astronauts
mostly
ate
cubed
,
compressed
foods
high
in
calories
and
lightweight
.
NASA expects a long shelf life for space food.
NASA
expects
a
long
shelf
life
for
space
food
.
The majority of food taken into space has been dried out or heat-treated.
The
majority
of
food
taken
into
space
has
been
dried
out
or
heat-treated
.
These process and use of sodium, make the food taken into space last longer.
These
process
and
use
of
sodium
,
make
the
food
taken
into
space
last
longer
.
Research is ongoing into space food to seek out healthier ways to preserve it.
Research
is
ongoing
into
space
food
to
seek
out
healthier
ways
to
preserve
it
.
Too much sodium is unhealthy, and can badly change the taste of some foods.
Too
much
sodium
is
unhealthy
,
and
can
badly
change
the
taste
of
some
foods
.
What do astronauts eat in space, and why? How did astronaut food come into being? How do astronauts preserve food for long periods of time in space? NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has been researching food for space travel since the 1960's to find the best way of keeping astronauts from going hungry.  The research could date from an accident that took place on the first manned Gemini mission in 1965. astronaut John Young managed to sneak a corned beef sandwich onto the Geminni III capsule to eat during its orbit around Earth. To Young's surprise, the sandwich plan did not go as expected; instead the sandwich began to break apart and scatter through the Geminni IIIcapsule. This could have resulted in disaster, since a small piece of food could have stuck in the air vents and other equipment. The sandwich was stuffed into a pocket to avoid the further mess inside the small space capsule This incident caused NASA to enforce strict rules on what types of food can be taken into space.  Space food has come a long way since then. During the Gemini period, the astronauts mostly ate cubed, compressed foods high in calories and lightweight.  NASA expects a long shelf life for space food. The majority of food taken into space has been dried out or heat-treated. These process and use of sodium, make the food taken into space last longer. Research is ongoing into space food to seek out healthier ways to preserve it. Too much sodium is unhealthy, and can badly change the taste of some foods.