John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth abroad the Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7 in 1962. Among the many tasks Glenn performed was the first American space experiments in eating food in the weightless conditions of Earth orbit. He reported that food tasted more bland than on earth. Glenn's flight did not last long enough to make eating a necessity, but helped the design of future space food systems.
The early Mercury astronauts had bite-sized freeze dried foods, and semi-liquids in aluminium tubes where the food was squeezed out like toothpaste. They found it very unappealing. Later condiments, spices and sweeteners were included to try to satisfy hungry astronauts' tastebuds.
The Apollo missions had on board meals like chicken and vegetables and for the first time hot water was available to re hydrate the food making them for the first time bearable.
The first meal consumed on the Moon was bacon squares, peaches, sugar cookie cubes, pineapple grapefruit drink and coffee.
Food on board the Space Shuttle was nutritious and appetizing and familiar late 20th century fare. Crew members normally congregated in the mid-deck area for their meals which were served in special trays, which separated the different food containers and kept them from lifting off and soaring around in the weightless cabin. Each tray was secured to the crew member's leg during meal time with springs and Velcro fasteners.
There was a freezer on board the Shuttles for foods, with an oven to heat them up. However, most of the Shuttle foods were dehydrated saving on time and storage space.
The potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space in 1995. NASA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the technology with the goal of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually, feeding future space colonies. Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia tested the seed potato production in its Astroculture plant growth facility.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
The early Mercury astronauts had bite-sized freeze dried foods, and semi-liquids in aluminium tubes where the food was squeezed out like toothpaste. They found it very unappealing. Later condiments, spices and sweeteners were included to try to satisfy hungry astronauts' tastebuds.
The Apollo missions had on board meals like chicken and vegetables and for the first time hot water was available to re hydrate the food making them for the first time bearable.
The first meal consumed on the Moon was bacon squares, peaches, sugar cookie cubes, pineapple grapefruit drink and coffee.
Food on board the Space Shuttle was nutritious and appetizing and familiar late 20th century fare. Crew members normally congregated in the mid-deck area for their meals which were served in special trays, which separated the different food containers and kept them from lifting off and soaring around in the weightless cabin. Each tray was secured to the crew member's leg during meal time with springs and Velcro fasteners.
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| Galley tray used aboard the Space Shuttle by RadioFan |
There was a freezer on board the Shuttles for foods, with an oven to heat them up. However, most of the Shuttle foods were dehydrated saving on time and storage space.
The potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space in 1995. NASA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, created the technology with the goal of feeding astronauts on long space voyages, and eventually, feeding future space colonies. Astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia tested the seed potato production in its Astroculture plant growth facility.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
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