The crew of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission is preparing for a controlled food experiment aboard the Orion spacecraft during their upcoming trip around the moon. A customized menu has been designed aimed at meeting their health and physical needs throughout the mission.
The crew consists of four astronauts: Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. They underwent pre-tests that included tasting and evaluating all the foods nominated for the final nutritional list.
According to NASA statements, the meals were prepared taking into account the strict operational constraints imposed by the nature of the spacecraft environment. Since there was no possibility of refrigeration or resupply during the flight, it was necessary to choose foods that could be stored for long periods and were easy to prepare and consume in zero gravity conditions.
The menu is based primarily on a variety of freeze-dried meals that are rehydrated using potable water available inside the vehicle. Specific times were allocated for daily meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in addition to a limited selection of drinks, including coffee, with “two flavored drinks per astronaut per day.”
The agency confirmed that the diet was designed in cooperation with specialists in space nutrition, with the aim of achieving a precise balance between calories, hydration and essential nutrients, taking into account the personal tastes and preferences of the crew members, and ensuring the reduction of any crumbs or particles that may negatively affect the work environment inside the vehicle under conditions of weightlessness.
