Space food
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Space food is a special type of food product that are specially created and processed for being consumed by astronauts in outer space.
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[edit] Processing
Sending food into orbit around earth or deep space is both challenging and difficult due to the numerous constraints placed on the required properties of the food. First and foremost the food must be physiologically sound. Namely it has to be nutritious, easily digestible, palatable, and safe. Second, the food must be practical and engineered for consumption in a zero gravity environment. As such, the food should be light, compact, and does not crumble easily such as to make them inexpensive to transport, and safe for the space craft. Finally, the food must not take up too much energy and time to preserve, prepare and dispose. As such they have to be light, well packaged and prepared, and shelf stable.
[edit] Types
There are several classification for food that is sent into space:
- Beverages (B) - Various rehydratable drinks.
- Fresh Foods (FF)- Foods that spoil quickly that needs to be eaten within the first two days of flight to prevent spoilage.
- Irradiated (I) Meat - Beef steak that is specially packaged and sterilized with ionizing radiation.
- Intermediate Moisture (IM) - Foods that have some moisture but not enough to cause immediate spoilage.
- Natural Form (NF) - Mostly unprocessed foods such as nuts, cookies and granola bars that are ready to eat.
- Rehydratable (R) Foods - Foods that have been dehydrated and allowed to rehydrate in hot water prior to consumption.
- Thermostabilized (T) - Foods that have been processed with heat to destroy microorganisms and enzymes that may cause spoilage.
More common staples and condiments do not have a classification and are known simply by the item name:
- Shelf Stable Tortillas - Tortillas that have been heat treated, specially package in an oxygen free nitrogen atmosphere to prevent the growth of mold.
- Condiments - Liquid salt solution, oily pepper paste, mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- NASA space food information page.
- History of Food in Space by NASA.
