What Are NASA’s Astronauts Eating On Artemis II?
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3 hours ago
Here's the menu for the 11-day mission
There’s a lot to be curious about when it comes to NASA’s Artemis II – the first manned moon mission in over 50 years. How do the astronauts sleep? What about going to the toilet? Can you brush your teeth in space? But the topic that has prompted the most intrigue? The food. So we’ve done some digging to find out what’s on the menu on Artemis II.
Space food has come a long way since Apollo 11, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were served beef and vegetables that had been dehydrated and stuffed into a package. Nowadays, astronauts aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station can enjoy a range of familiar foods – from bacon sandwiches to chicken curry to fresh fruit.
The menu for the Artemis team is slightly more limited, but still sounds surprisingly good. According to NASA, the four-person crew made up of Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen had a chance to ‘sample, evaluate, and rate all foods on the standard menu during preflight testing.’ Those preferences ‘are balanced with nutritional requirements and what Orion can accommodate.’
NASA’s website notes, ‘Artemis II menus reflect decades of advancement in space food systems. Apollo missions relied on early food technologies with limited variety, while space shuttle missions expanded menu options and onboard preparation. The International Space Station benefits from regular resupply and occasional fresh foods. In contrast, Artemis II uses a fixed, pre-selected menu designed for a self-contained space vehicle with no resupply.’
What’s On The Menu On Artemis II?
The Artemis II crew menu features 189 items, including breakfast sausages, granola with blueberries, mango salad, macaroni and cheese, barbecued beef brisket, broccoli au gratin, vegetable quiche and tortillas – one of the most popular astronaut foods. ‘[Tortillas] have long been a practical staple in spaceflight because they are versatile, easy to eat in microgravity, and create far fewer crumbs than bread,’ Victoria Segovia, a NASA public affairs specialist, told PEOPLE. ‘Tortillas can also be paired with a wide range of foods, which gives the crew flexibility and variety across meals.’ Crumbs are a big no-no, as floating particles can drift into gadgetry and interfere with electrical systems – or even end up in the eyes or noses of the astronauts, causing health issues.
Apparently tasting foods can be tricky in space due to congestion, so condiments are plentiful in space: the astronauts can spice up their meals with a choice of hot sauces, or go sweet with peanut butter or honey. A jar of Nutella was even spotted floating around the cabin during a live broadcast (naturally the moment has since gone viral online).
Drinks-wise the astronauts are allowed two flavoured beverages per day, with options such as coffee, green tea, lemonade, mango-peach smoothie and cocoa. There are plenty of sweet treats too, like chocolate, cake, candy-coated almonds and cookies.
Canadian astronaut Hansen, meanwhile, has five food products to remind him of home including shrimp curry, wild keta salmon bites and maple cream cookies. ‘Personal preference plays an important role in menu planning because familiar foods can help support morale, variety, and overall menu acceptability during the mission,’ added Segovia. ‘At the same time, every item still has to meet the mission’s nutritional, food safety, and operational requirements.’
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How Is The Food Prepared?
Naturally, there’s no fridge on board so all menu items must be shelf-stable: everything is either rehydratable, thermostabilised, irradiated or ready-to-eat. ‘The crew uses Orion’s potable water dispenser to rehydrate foods and beverages and a compact, briefcase-style food warmer to heat meals as needed,’ explains NASA.
Each day there’s time scheduled for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and eating together is important for the crew. ‘Eating together really resonates with me. I think it’s just a human thing,’ said Hansen. Koch added, ‘It represents togetherness and something a little out of the ordinary.’
