What the Artemis II astronauts are eating aboard the Orion spacecraft
The NASA astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II mission set to do flyby of the moon will be well-fed and hydrated with a specially crafted menu for space.
The menu, which was designed according to operational constraints and to fit each phase of the mission, was selected with input from the four-person crew, who NASA says 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."
"The food flying aboard Artemis II is designed to support crew health and performance during the mission around the Moon. With no resupply, refrigeration, or late-load capability, all meals must be carefully selected to remain safe, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare and consume in NASA's Orion spacecraft," the agency states on its website.
The foods were "developed in coordination with space food experts and the crew to balance calorie needs, hydration, and nutrient intake while accommodating individual crew preferences," NASA states.
According to NASA, Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen "have scheduled time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
While beverage options are limited, NASA said that "each astronaut is allotted two flavored beverages per day, which may include coffee."
NASA says the shelf-stable foods are designed for the "compact, self-contained spacecraft" and also help reduce "the risk of crumbs or particulates in microgravity."
Each phase of the flight has a tailored menu of freeze-dried meals, which NASA said "require hydration using Orion's potable water dispenser," which may not available during some phases of the mission, such as launch and landing.
