Culinary issues for astronauts

When the flight to space began to be controlled, the eating of the astronauts on orbit was quite monotonous: the food was mixed into the machine, sterilized, then packed in tubes Tube or dehydrate and pack as glue to carry. Today, the menu for astronauts includes hundreds of different dishes.

>>>10 interesting facts about astronauts' food

The food of the astronauts is the food that they carry throughout the journey on the universe. Most of these foods are packed in plastic bags, in tubes or in boxes.

Each organization participating in the International Space Station (ISS) program has its own menu according to the nutrition standards and the taste of the astronauts, these dishes are almost no different from the food on the earth. . The goal is to mimic maximum food on the earth to contribute to the normal life during the time when astronauts live and work in orbit. While Japanese astronauts like to eat rice or vermicelli, Russian astronauts prefer casseroles, dried meat and fish. Crabs mixed with sauces invented by NASA are very popular because they retain the flavor after cold drying and when mixed with water, they still retain the same flavor as the food prepared on earth.

European Space Agency ESA is ordering Italian young entrepreneur Argotec to research the construction of menus and food supplies for European astronauts on ISS. Argotec's Space Food Lab has developed a number of dishes that can be preserved for 18 to 24 months with all additives being ecological products, without exception.'The menu is a result of research and development for a year and a half, particularly for supplements that have taken more than half a year. Our main goal is to reduce the amount of salt in the food as well as find ways to preserve it without altering the color and taste , 'explained Antonio Pilello, Argotec's spokesman.

Photo: esa.int

NASA's Space Food Systems Laboratory in Texas is a rather large and extensive research facility. Here scientists study the production and optimization of food for the space travel industry. In addition to nutrition consultants, microbiologists and food researchers, packaging designers, engineers and technicians conduct a series of experiments to create The most suitable and perfect food for astronauts. Shelf life of food is an important factor: all food put on the ISS must have a shelf life of at least 18 months. In addition, the packaging material should be as light as possible because the shipping cost for 1kg to ISS is US $ 21,000.

All foods are placed in plastic bags, dried and used when mixed with water. In the daily menu, nutritional balance is very concerned, meaning there are enough substances needed for the body. Often Calcium and Vitamin D are added to food to help strengthen bones and limit bone degradation in weightless conditions. Onions, cabbage and legumes are avoided because these foods often cause bloating, bloating. Also avoid brittle crackers and cookies because their debris can clog the filter funnels or cause astronauts to accidentally inhale.

Unlike food for people on earth, food for astronauts often has to be darker because the taste organ on the orbit is very poor. So the food development experts for astronauts often choose spicy and richer spices to ensure delicious dishes, otherwise they limit salt consumption because salt is suspected of promoting. bone reduction process , an inevitable thing in the universe. Supplementing the dish also has fresh fruits and vegetables. Vegetables will be taken to the station once a month along with other necessary items.

Nursery on the universe

What will future food supply issues for astronauts look like? In the long term, the goal is to produce food right on orbit. For trips to Mars, the use of renewable materials is inevitable. Dr. Jens Hauslage, a gravitational biologist at the German Center for Aeronautics and Astronautics in Cologne, is currently doing small experiments in a facility called CROP.

Here, things that are considered useless waste such as leftover vegetables or urine will be studied for recycling as nutrients for plants.'In long-term flights, it is necessary to recreate materials because people cannot bring all kinds of food to orbit for a long time. While plants are capable of providing people with the necessary nutrients . " ' The difficulty here is the weightless condition: Trees will not know which direction to grow in weightless condition. So, for example, light must be used to fundamentally guide plants to grow. "

NASA is also developing a 3D printer capable of printing food. So wish the astronauts delicious.