What Will Artemis II Astronauts Eat In Space During Their 10-Day Moon Mission

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As NASA gears up for its historic Artemis II mission, scheduled to launch humans around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, there is an increased interest in one aspect of space travel that is unexpectedly relatable: what do astronauts eat in space?

From recent updates, it seems that astronauts won't be living on tubes and paste anymore. Their meals have been carefully prepared and surprisingly varied, even providing a sense of comfort for the astronauts during their 10-day trip. From tortillas to hot meals and even desserts, space food has come a long way.

What Will Artemis II Astronauts Eat?

Photo Credit: NASA

NASA has curated a menu of around 189 food and drink items for the mission, keeping in mind nutrition, safety, and astronaut preferences.

Some of the food options include:

• Breakfast: Vegetable quiche, sausage, coffee
• Lunch: Couscous with nuts, mango-peach smoothie
• Dinner: Barbecue beef brisket, mac and cheese, spicy green beans

Additionally, there will be some snacks and other items, such as:

• Tortillas (preferred over bread to avoid crumbs)
• Nuts and dried fruits
• Peanut butter, almond butter, jams
• Multiple types of hot sauce for flavour
• Familiar flavours and comfort foods will be added to help boost morale during the mission.

Why Space Food Is So Different

It is not as easy as opening a lunchbox. Food must meet the following conditions:

• No crumbs, as they might damage equipment
• No refrigeration, as the food must be "shelf-stable"
• Easy to consume in microgravity, as spilling is not allowed
• Lightweight and compact, as space is limited
• Food is usually dehydrated or ready-to-eat, and the astronauts add the required amount of water or heat the food using the equipment on board.

No Fresh Food? Here's the Catch

Unlike the International Space Station, the Orion spacecraft does not have refrigeration, which means fresh food is limited or not included.

This makes planning even more crucial, as astronauts won't have resupply options during the mission. Everything they need must be packed in advance.

More Than Just Food: A Mental Boost

Food in space is not just about sustenance; it is also about comfort.

NASA has emphasized that "sharing meals with crew members helps astronauts feel connected to home and grounds thousands of kilometres away."

In some ways, having meals in space is compared to the experience of going on a camping experience.

Bottomline

While Artemis II isn't just about reaching the Moon, it's about getting ready for longer missions in the future, like Mars. And when it comes to something as fundamental as food, there's no denying how much of a difference it makes.

From nutrition to mental health, every meal has been thought out, because when you're that far away from Earth, even a simple meal like a tortilla or a cup of coffee can be crucial.