what do astronauts eat and what if they miss pizza in space?

 

NASA has unveiled a new 'spacesuit' for astronauts ready to go to the moon in 2025, sparking a frenzy about space travel ever since.

 

Astronaut costumes in the US have not been completely redesigned since 1981.

 

Most importantly, the new suit is better suited for female astronauts and, if approved, will be used on the Artemis III mission, which will mark the first manned landing on the moon in five decades.

 

Against this backdrop, many people ask what life is like in space and how do you do daily tasks like eating there?

 

The BBC radio program 'Food Chain' has tried to find out about this by talking to retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott.

 

 

"I used to eat pizza"

Nicole Stott visited the International Space Station on two different space missions during her long career and spent more than 100 days there. During this time, he lived these days by eating special food.

 

"I was thinking about pizza all the time," says Stott.

 

"The thought of a slice of pizza, which is delicious to eat, with melted cheese and hot sauce, reminded me a lot," he said while running his tongue over his lips.

 

Foods in space are modified to adapt to zero gravity. Therefore, the bread is not sent because its pieces will float in space. Cornbread is sent instead.

 

You can eat eggs for breakfast. You can also have an omelet if you want.'

 

The International Space Station is home to people from many different countries, and Stott explains that astronauts often take each other's meals like school children share.

 

"For lunch, it's a machine and you can roll anything in cornbread, and for dinner, my favorite food is Japanese food because it's so delicious," she says.

 

 

Food suspended in space

There are no plates or bowls on the International Space Station because everything is suspended in space. The food ate there is usually processed and dehydrated to reduce weight.

 

Astronauts rehydrate food before eating with the help of hot and cold water dispensers.

 

The food is usually in packets, so it is used as a plate and eaten with a special spoon.

 

"You scoop out the rice with a long-handled spoon and then dip it in the curry and enjoy," Stott explains.

 

Eating food suspended in space feels particularly difficult, so how did Stott feel about the process?

 

"The whole process is a lot of fun," she says. Throwing food at each other or trying to eat it in space has its own fun.

 

 

'Water has to be recycled'

It is important to quench thirst in space and keep drinking water, but where does this water come from? Some water is carried by astronauts from Earth and the rest is recycled in space.

 

Water, waste, and urine are also recycled from the space shuttle's waste fuel cells.

 

You might be disgusted to read this, but NASA claims that this water is cleaner than the water we drink on Earth.

 

 

 

Medical problems

Another important thing that is related to food is nutrition. Eating a balanced diet in space can counteract the health risks of being there.

 

NASA's chief nutritionist, Scott Smith, says that going into space accelerates the aging process of our bodies. This can lead to weak bones and weight loss.

 

"We know that people lose weight when they travel. We suspect this is because food in space doesn't stay in your stomach the way it does on Earth. Then your stomach immediately sends a message to your brain that you're full even though it's not, so we've given the astronauts an iPad app that records this data. '

 

"Bone loss during space travel is 10 times faster than that in women after menopause," Scott explains.

 

Therefore, maintaining a balanced diet in space, such as micronutrients, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals, is very important for physical health. Still, according to Scott, it also improves the mental health of astronauts.

 

"Every time a space shuttle goes to the space station, we send fresh fruits and vegetables like malts, apples, etc. They don't stay fresh for long, but mentally they have a significant impact.

 

 

Chocolate and melons

Scott says the food available in space is much better than people think, and astronaut Stott agrees.

 

"I don't remember ever being bored with food," says Stott.

 

Families of astronauts can also send them food items.

 

Stott's husband once sent her dark chocolate-covered coffees from London, and Stott's fellow astronauts received wine and fish, which they then shared with all their colleagues.

 

If there is any food that these astronauts miss, they eat it when they come back to Earth